How to Deal with Asthma Flare-Ups at School
Asthma can be a challenging reality for a child to deal with. It can interfere with planned activities like sports. An asthmatic child and the people around him must watch for certain things to know whether the child could be endangering himself during an activity.
I worry about asthma flareups as I send my kindergartner to school. Sometimes I can see an attack coming on, and other times I have been blindsided by one. To put all that on the shoulders of a 5-year-old at school scares me.
It is important to have a plan in place for how to stay on guard and what to do should an asthma attack occur at school.
Have a plan in place
Asthma can flare up at the most inconvenient times. Make a plan with your child so that she will be prepared if asthma strikes when she is at school.
Educate your child about his asthma. Tell him what situations to avoid and what to do if he begins to feel as though he may be experiencing a flare-up. Give him instructions on who he should notify. For example, make sure he understands that he should always alert the adult in charge, rather than just a friend.
Sometimes things do not go as planned. Help him with specific words that he can use to alert an adult that he is experiencing an asthma flare-up, and explain what he should do if the adult does not seem to understand or act quickly upon it.
Alert all adults in contact with your child
Alert the adults who are around your child on a regular basis to the fact that your child has asthma. Contact everyone you can think of, including teachers, teacher assistants, coaches, librarians and the principal. Give them clues about what signs to watch for that could warn of an asthma flare-up, and educate them on what they should do if one arises. The more adults who know of your child’s situation, the more likely your child is to receive quick help.
Be easy to reach
Be available as much as possible. Keep your cell phone within reach. If you have a meeting or anything else that requires you to be away from the phone, check your messages as soon as you are available
Minimize risks
The best way to deal with asthma, when possible, is to prevent flare-ups. See if there are ways your child's triggers can be minimized or even removed from her environment. If something acts as a trigger to your child, it may be bothering other asthmatic children as well. Your willingness to get involved may improve the lives of many.
Children with asthma should be free to live their lives as fully as all children do. With a little education and some creativity, you can prepare your child and those around her to deal with an asthma flare-up . Give out the information necessary to deal with an asthma flare-up, and there will be nothing stopping her from pursuing her interests and dreams.
Stephanie Glover is a Collegeville, PA mom of two. This post was adopted from her blog, A Grande Life.
