I just received an email from School Nurse. It's that time of year again - already!! Time to fill out the new Asthma Action Plan for daughter Kitty for the upcoming school year. I take it to Asthma Doc to fill it out, then I sign it, then I return it to the school nurse.
Yes, the school nurses work during the summer....
There are MANY Asthma Action Plans out there, most school nurses have a form that they like to use. This one above is from the Utah Asthma Program.
Did you know that students can carry their asthma inhaler with them - AT ALL TIMES? And in every state in the country?! Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) has an area on their website that talks about Medications at School. Their website says:
"In 2010, we celebrated that all 50 states protect students' rights to carry and self-administer asthma medications."
Do we have these laws in every state?
In 2010 we celebrated that all 50 states protect students’ rights to carry and self-administer asthma medications. But our work’s not done – one state – New York — still needs to pass a law permitting students to carry and use their anaphylaxis medications. - See more at: http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/meds-at-school/#States
In 2010 we celebrated that all 50 states protect students’ rights to carry and self-administer asthma medications. But our work’s not done – one state – New York — still needs to pass a law permitting students to carry and use their anaphylaxis medications. - See more at: http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/meds-at-school/#States
Do we have these laws in every state?
In 2010 we celebrated that all 50 states protect students’ rights to carry and self-administer asthma medications. But our work’s not done – one state – New York — still needs to pass a law permitting students to carry and use their anaphylaxis medications. - See more at: http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/meds-at-school/#States
In 2010 we celebrated that all 50 states protect students’ rights to carry and self-administer asthma medications. But our work’s not done – one state – New York — still needs to pass a law permitting students to carry and use their anaphylaxis medications. - See more at: http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/meds-at-school/#States
But, you MUST fill out the proper forms each school year from your school nurse to make it legal.
Yes, all schools are "drug free zones." BUT student who have an asthma attack need immediate access to their inhaler. On AANMA's website, they also say that:
"Every school year students have died because they were unable to get their asthma or anaphylaxis medications on time."
Every
school year students have died because they were unable to get to their
asthma or anaphylaxis medications on time. - See more at:
http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/meds-at-school/#States
When my kids were younger, I had to give the inhaler to the teacher or school nurse to lock up. Now, they can carry it with them, as long as Asthma Doc and I fill out and sign the form at the beginning of each school year.
Page 1 on the form above tells the teacher/school nurse/recess guard what to do if Kitty has an asthma attack at school. It lists the maintenance medications she takes every day, what triggers (or causes) her asthma attacks, and what rescue medication she needs.
Page 2 is where I sign, giving her permission to carry her inhaler and for the school personnel to help her if she needs it.
Talk to your school nurse about your student being able to carry their inhaler (and Epi Pen) with them at all times. But remember, you MUST fill out the proper forms (every school year). AANMA also has a small poster called "School Ready" that you can print out and take to your school.
I know the panic that can set in if I have an asthma attack and my inhaler isn't close by for me to use. Our kids don't need to have that happen at school, let's protect them!