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Schools Health Check
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Dear [name],
Thanks for completing the Schools Health Check for [school] on [date].
We note that you indicated a NO response for Checkpoint #1 – Asthma Management Policy.
Asthma Australia recommends that each school have an active and current asthma management policy that is:
- Accessible to staff
- Understood by staff
- Actioned by the school
Further information about Asthma Management Policy can be found within the Asthma Guidelines for Australian Schools.
A sample Asthma Management Policy template can be accessed from the Asthma Australia website at asthma.org.au/what-we-do/asthma-in-schools/ for your consideration.
Feel free to access the Schools Health Check again once your policy is ready to “re-check” the asthma management readiness of [school].
Regards,
Asthma Australia
Dear [name],
Thanks for completing the Schools Health Check for [school] on [date].
We note that you indicated a NO response for Checkpoint #2 – Staff Training in Asthma First Aid.
Asthma Australia recommends that each school aims to have all staff trained in asthma management and emergency asthma first aid.
There are a number of courses – free, paid, online, face-to-face, accredited and non-accredited – offered by Asthma Australia and other providers, that meet the requirements for school staff to access and administer medication in the event of an asthma emergency and include the provision of an individual certificate of participation or competency for staff records.
Some states and territories require specific accredited training to be completed by staff with a direct student wellbeing responsibility, those working with students with a history of severe asthma or within a higher risk subject area.
Further information about asthma first aid management training options can be found within the Asthma Guidelines for Australian Schools or the Asthma Australia website – see asthma.org.au/what-we-do/asthma-in-schools/
The free online training course, Asthma First Aid for Schools https://asthma.org.au/what-we-do/training/ available from Asthma Australia, now includes typical school-based scenarios to help guide staff through the asthma first aid management content.
Completion of this course may well suit the recommended aim of having all staff training in asthma first aid management.
Course exit survey results indicate that over 90% of participants indicated they were:
- confident to manage an asthma attack
- knew the signs and symptoms of an asthma attack and,
- knew the first aid procedure.
Feel free to access the Schools Health Check again once trained for all staff has been achieved to “re-check” the asthma management readiness of [school].
Regards,
Asthma Australia
Dear [name],
Thanks for completing the Schools Health Check for [school] on [date].
We note that you indicated a NO response for Checkpoint #3 – Student Asthma Plans.
Asthma Australia recommends that all people with asthma have a current Asthma Action Plan issued by their doctor. These plans are an integral part of asthma management and help in the recognition of worsening symptoms and provide clear instructions on what to do in response.
A copy of this plan should be provided to the school by the student’s parents or carers at least annually, or when there is a change to medication or management process.
There are a range of student asthma plans available for use by doctors across both print and digital types. Further, specific student asthma plans have been developed for use in Victorian schools. See asthma.org.au/what-we-do/asthma-in-schools/.
Further information about student asthma plans can be found within the Asthma Guidelines for Australian Schools or on the Asthma Australia website at asthma.org.au/what-we-do/asthma-in-schools/
Additionally, the Asthma Guidelines for Australian Schools or Asthma Australia website asthma.org.au/what-we-do/asthma-in-schools/ provide information and a sample template for correspondence to parents and carers to encourage the supply of a copy of a current student asthma plan to school as part of administrative requirements.
Feel free to access the Schools Health Check again once a process to encourage parents and carers to provide a copy of a current student asthma plan has been implemented to “re-check” the asthma management readiness of [school].
Regards,
Asthma Australia
Dear [name],
Thanks for completing the Schools Health Check for [school] on [date].
We note that you indicated a NO response for Checkpoint #4 – Asthma Management Equipment.
Asthma Australia recommends that schools provide and maintain a minimum of at least two Asthma Emergency Kits or similar.
Provision of two kits typically enables ready access during both on-site and off-site activities as needed.
A standard Asthma Emergency Kit or similar contains:
- reliever medication
- at least two single-person use spacer devices
- a log sheet for recording incident details and medication use, and
- clear written instructions on equipment use and asthma first aid steps
Other factors schools may need to consider in terms of the provision and maintenance of Asthma Emergency Kits is the physical size and layout of the school, the number of students and staff, relative accessibility to the equipment and level of environmental risk.
Further information about Asthma Emergency Kits can be found within the Asthma Guidelines for Australian Schools – see asthma.org.au/what-we-do/asthma-in-schools/
Additionally, Asthma Emergency Kits (minus reliever medication) and replacement items (eg. spacer device) can be purchased from Asthma Australia or downloaded (eg. Asthma First Aid steps) from our website at asthma.org.au
Reliever medication can be purchased from a pharmacy.
Feel free to access the Schools Health Check again once at least two Asthma Emergency Kits or similar are available for access and use at school to “re-check” the asthma management readiness of [school].
Regards,
Asthma Australia
Dear [name],
Thanks for completing the Schools Health Check for [school] on [date].
We note that you indicated a NO response for Checkpoint #5 – Asthma Management Promotion.
Asthma Australia recommends that schools promote asthma management to students, staff, parents and carers, in an effort to increase overall school community knowledge, skills and confidence in asthma management and asthma first aid emergency response.
Such promotion could also assist in raised asthma awareness and the reduction of the often-reported stigma attached to living with asthma.
A range of promotional resources and tools are available for school use, including:
- Asthma First Aid posters
- Content for use within school newsletters, websites and social media channels
- Asthma apps – Kiss myAsthma and Asthma First Aid
- Asthma Action Plans
- Templates for parent and carer correspondence
- Asthma Australia website, social media and YouTube channels.
A range of asthma management promotional resources and tools can be found on the Asthma Australia website – see asthma.org.au/what-we-do/asthma-in-schools/
Feel free to access the Schools Health Check again once you have commenced the promotion of asthma management to students, staff, parents and carers to “re-check” the asthma management readiness of [school]
Regards,
Asthma Australia