Back to School with Asthma Checklist

Keep Lungs Healthy for the 2022-2023 school year with these 10 tips.

• Learn more about asthma by participating in a free online program, Asthma Basics and watch this short video about how the lungs work with this. 
• Gain a greater understanding about your school’s approach to preventing COVID infections, such as masking, social distancing, ventilation and cleaning practices.
• Learn your school's asthma policies and asthma emergency procedures. Ask if your child is allowed to self-carry their quick-relief inhaler. Ask if the school has a stock of quick-relief inhalers (e.g., albuterol) for your child to use if there is an emergency. Ask who gets notified if your child experiences symptoms and needs treatment during the school day. 
• Find out if your child can carry medications while at school. If so, fill out any required forms to ensure quick access to your child’s life-saving medicine.
• Schedule a visit with your child’s healthcare provider before the school year begins to complete all the necessary forms for school and make sure your child is up-to-date on vaccines that prevent respiratory infections, such as COVID-19, influenza (flu), and pertussis (whooping cough). 
• Review your child’s Asthma Action Plan with their healthcare provider. Don’t have an Asthma Action Plan? Develop one with your child's doctor and make sure you and your child know what to do when symptoms start.
• Talk to your school nurse and your child's teacher about your child's asthma and review their Asthma Action Plan with them.
• Mark all asthma medicines that you plan to send to school with your child's name and complete instructions on how the medicine should be used.