Your Relief Blog

Back-to-school season brings a lot of change all at once. New teachers, new schedules, new routines, and for parents of kids with asthma, a new set of things to think about. Summer often means fewer triggers and a more relaxed pace, so it is easy for asthma management to slip a little once the season winds down.

Getting back on track before the first day of school can make the transition smoother for everyone, including your child, their teachers, and the school nurse. Here is what to focus on before the first bell rings.

Before School Starts

The weeks leading up to school are the best time to close any gaps in your child’s asthma care.

• Schedule a checkup with your allergist. This gives you time to review the summer, talk through any new symptoms, and touch base on early fall triggers like ragweed and mold.
• Review and update the asthma action plan. Growth, new medications, and shifting symptoms mean last year’s plan may not fit anymore.
• Confirm prescriptions are filled and up to date. Check that any spacer or backup inhaler at school is accounted for too.

During the summer, it is common to get a little lax on daily asthma prevention medication. But going back to school means viral infections, one of the most common asthma triggers, start circulating again. Combine that with fall mold allergies, and it can be the perfect storm for symptoms. Getting back on the daily controller goes a long way toward keeping your child’s asthma under control through both triggers. 

What to Send With Your Child

Once school starts, your child’s asthma plan needs to travel with them.

• Rescue inhaler, labeled with name and dose. This helps school staff confirm dosing quickly and get it to the right student without delay.
• Copy of the asthma action plan for the school nurse. Written instructions on file matter more than a conversation from months ago.
• Emergency contact information. Confirm the school has current numbers for you and any other emergency contacts.

Talk to the School

A strong asthma plan only works if the people around your child understand it.

• Share the action plan with the nurse and teacher. A short conversation at the start of the year goes further than a form buried in a file.
• Confirm the school knows how to respond to a flare. Ask who is trained to help and how quickly you would be contacted.
• Ask about PE and outdoor recess policies. Exertion, weather, and air quality can affect a child with asthma differently than their classmates, so it helps to know how the school handles high-trigger days.

Quick Reference: Your Back-to-School Asthma Checklist

Short on time? Here is the condensed version to keep on hand:

✓ Schedule an allergist checkup and update the asthma action plan

✓ Confirm prescriptions, spacers, and backup inhalers are current

✓ Send a labeled rescue inhaler and a copy of the action plan with your child

✓ Make sure emergency contact information is up to date

✓ Share the action plan with the nurse and teacher

✓ Ask about the school’s flare response process and PE or recess policies

A Little Prep Goes a Long Way

Asthma does not have to be something you manage alone once the school year starts. With an updated action plan, the right supplies on hand, and a school team that is informed and prepared, your child can head into the year with fewer surprises and a lot more support behind them.

If your child’s asthma action plan needs an update before school starts, schedule a visit with our team at Dakota Allergy & Asthma.