Learning About Making an Asthma Action Plan for Your Child’s School

An asthma action plan for school lists all the information that the school staff needs to help manage your child's asthma. It includes how to give your child asthma care and what to do for flare-ups. One of the goals of this plan is to support your child's health and learning at school.

You can work with your child’s care team to create or update the action plan. This is something you can do every year or more often if needed.

Once you have the action plan, meet with the school staff at the start of each school year. Talk about the plan with your child's teachers and school nurse. Make sure to tell the school about any changes to the plan during the year.

Here are some things you may want to include in your child's action plan for school.

• How bad your child’s asthma is. Include how severe your child's asthma is and how often flare-ups happen.
• Your child's asthma symptoms. Describe your child's symptoms and include how to treat them. Every child has different asthma symptoms.
• Your child's peak flow zones. Include zones for when your child is feeling okay, when they're having an asthma flare-up, and when they need medical help. For example, if their peak flow is 50% to 79% of their personal best, they're having an asthma flare-up.
• Your child's asthma triggers. Every child has different things that trigger their asthma.
• When to alert you about your child’s symptoms.
• What level of asthma care support your child needs at school. Older children and kids who have had asthma for a long time may not need as much support as younger children or kids who have just been diagnosed with asthma. Give written consent if your child can carry and self-administer their own asthma medicines.
• Information about asthma medicines. Note what your child takes, how to give the medicine, how much to give, when to give it, and how to store it.
• Other important instructions. The asthma action plan should also state that your child is allowed to:
  • See the school nurse anytime.
  • Miss school for medical appointments.
  • Change how they participate in physical activities, such as physical education class and sports.
• Contact information. List parents, other caregivers, and your child's doctor. You will also want to let school staff know when to call 911 for help in case of an emergency.

Here are some tips for working with your child’s school to help with their asthma.

• Request a meeting at school. When you meet with the school staff, talk about the best ways to communicate and who you can reach out to in the future. Talk with your child’s teacher or teachers and tell them how they can best support your child.
• Share the action plan with the school. Give a physical copy of the plan to the school nurse and your child's teachers.
• Write to your child’s school to request a 504 plan. This plan lists accommodations, education, and services that your child needs. It works together with the action plan to meet your child’s healthcare needs.
• Ask if your child's school has an asthma toolkit. The toolkit may include asthma medicines and devices for emergency use, such as quick-relief metered-dose inhalers, nebulizers, peak flow meters, and medicines for allergic reactions, which can trigger an asthma attack.
• Talk to your child's school about ways to reduce your child's asthma triggers. Ask about the school's protocols for cleaning, pest control, indoor air quality, and tobacco-free areas.
• Talk about adapting physical activities for your child. Exercise helps the lungs and can be important for a child with asthma. But some activities might need to be adjusted for your child's needs.