Teacher Responsibility Checklist

Open communication between teachers and parents/guardians about a student’s asthma can assist with achieving good asthma control, thereby allowing the student to participate fully in all school activities. This checklist recommends activities appropriate for teachers to create/support asthma friendly schools.

• Know which students in the class have asthma and/or use an inhaler medication.
  
  
• Distribute and collect the School Asthma Information Package from parents/guardians of students with asthma which includes:
  • Authorization for Medication Use at School Form (Board Specific)
  • Student Asthma Management Plan
  • Parent/Guardian Responsibility Checklist
  • Student with Asthma Responsibility Checklist
  • Your Child has Asthma…What Can you Do?
    
    
• Keep a copy of the Student Asthma Management Plan for each student with asthma in the classroom to provide easy access for those working in the classroom.
  
  
• Encourage students to carry their own inhaler medication with them at all times.
  • For students who are not allowed to carry their inhaler, the inhaler medication should be kept in their classroom for easy access
  • Know which students require assistance to use their inhaler
  • Feel comfortable with your ability to assist a student with asthma to use an inhaler.
    
    
• Know the emergency plan for handling worsening asthma.
  • Display the poster Managing Asthma Episodes in each classroom.
  • Review with your class the steps to take if someone is experiencing worsening asthma
    
    
• Use asthma resources to learn more about handling worsening asthma. Attend education sessions, if provided at the school, to learn about asthma.
  • Keeping Children and Youth with Asthma Active (Online Workshop)

• Inform parents when students show signs of worsening asthma at school.
  
  
• Know the asthma triggers for students in your class, which are identified on the Student Asthma Management Plan.
  
  
• Take action to reduce student’s exposure to asthma triggers whenever possible.
  • Examples: strong smelling markers, chalk dust, furry animals, freshly cut grass, pollen, very hot or very cold temperature, and poor air quality.
  • Viral infections are one of the most common asthma triggers so encourage frequent hand washing to decrease the spread of infections.
    
    
• Encourage students with asthma to participate in all school activities to the best of their abilities.
  • When planning outdoor activities try to avoid freshly cut grass, extreme temperatures (cold, hot or humid), and poor air quality.
  • Students who are currently experiencing asthma symptoms (cough, wheeze, shortness of breath) should not participate in physical activity until symptoms have resolved.
  • Notify parents/guardians well in advance of school trips and identify activities involved.
  • Ensure that blue reliever inhalers are easily accessible on field trips and that you know how to handle worsening asthma.
    
    
• Use preventive measures to allow participation in exercise and/or physical activity.
  • Use a warm-up period.
  • Permit use of reliever (blue) inhaler 10-15 minutes prior to activity.
  • Understand how to handle symptoms associated with exercise.
    
    
• Provide opportunities for students to learn about asthma.
  
  
• Advocate for the asthma education program RAP – Roaring Adventures of Puff for students with asthma.