Managing asthma at school is really important for your child’s health and academic success. Among kids, ​​there is a rise in asthma attacks and hospitalisations in February each year. This is likely related to respiratory infections associated with a return to school and childcare, with lower use of preventer medicines during school holidays potentially contributing to this.

​​Asthma can ​​impact​ time off work for parents and carers as well. This can lead to work, time, and money stress on the family. With the right strategies, you can help your child stay healthy, active and ready to learn.

What role do parents and carers play?

There is a lot you can do at home to help keep your child’s asthma under control at school.

Stay on top of your child’s asthma management

• • At the start of the school year, see your doctor for an Asthma Review.
  • Ask for an update to your child’s written Asthma Action Plan for everyday and school use.
  • ​​If exercise ​ ​is a trigger for your child, ask your doctor to include instructions ​about how to manage this on their action plan. This way, their teachers will know if they need to use any medicine before exercise. ​ ​​Ask your doctor or pharmacist to check your and your child’s inhaler technique face to face. This helps make sure your child is getting the correct dose of medicine into their lungs. This is extra important if they are going to be using it at school by themselves.
  • ​​Be​​ ​vigilant with your child’s preventer medicine at home. This will help keep their lungs healthy, so they don’t get asthma symptoms at school.
  • Download  our Asthma Adventure Game to engage your child in their asthma management tasks.

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Be familiar with your child’s teacher

• Asthma is different for every child. It can be helpful for both you and your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s asthma and what the​y​ might need to look out for.
• ​​Discuss​​ ​ your child’s ​ ​Asthma Action Plan ​with their teacher. ​​​Make sure they know if your child​ need​s​ help using their medicine or can do it themselves.
• Ask about your child’s school asthma policy and​ make sure to talk to the school about your child’s asthma.​​ ​
• Make sure ​their teachers know​​ ​if your child needs their reliever before exercise. ​ ​
• ​​Find out if​ the school need​s​ more than one ‘set’ of reliever and spacer​.​​ Is your child able to keep their medicine with them or does it need to be kept in the office?​
• Find out if your school has an air quality plan.

Teach your child their Asthma First Aid

Watching our ​​Asthma First Aid video with your child is a wonderful way to prepare them for managing asthma flare-ups. The video demonstrates how to do Asthma First Aid with a blue reliever puffer.

Your child might have their own special instructions from their doctor, which could be slightly different.

It’s important for both you and your child to feel confident in handling asthma emergencies. By watching together, you can discuss any questions they might have and make sure your child understands each step.

You might share this resource with your school.

Check your child’s asthma score

Knowing if your child’s asthma ​is under control​ means you can feel more confident they are not headed for an asthma attack at school. If their score shows that their asthma is not well controlled book an appointment with their doctor and call us on 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462). We can help you plan what to ask their doctor in order to give your child the best chance at another great school year!

Check your child’s asthma score