Goals for Parents

Goal 1: Establish a process to identify students with asthma

• Inform the school that your child has asthma.
• Complete and return the school registration form or letter Does your Child have Asthma or use puffers/inhalers?
• Complete and return the Student Asthma Management Plan to the school

Goal 2: Allow students with asthma easy access to their inhalers.

• Encourage your child to carry their own inhaler medication with them at all times.
  
  • Most students age seven years or older are capable of developing the skills to use an inhaler.
  • If your child is not carrying his/her own inhaler, it is best to have the medication available in the classroom and within easy reach.   Medication is then available for use in cases of worsening asthma or to prevent asthma attacks prior to physical activity.
  • Check medication annually to ensure that it has not expired
• If you did not receive a form to complete that allows your child to carry an inhaler, obtain the Authorization for School Medication Use Form (Board Specific) from your school
• Have your child's doctor complete the Authorization for School Medication Use Form (Board Specific) and return it to the school (if required).
  
  • Indicate whether or not your child is capable of carrying and taking his/her own inhaler medication.
  • Describe circumstances when your child may need to use the inhaler.
• Complete and return the Student Asthma Management Plan which specifics whether your child is capable to self-administer their inhaler.
• If your child carries his/her own inhaler at school, ensure that your child:
  • Has the reliever inhaler available at all times.
  • Knows when and how to use the inhaler correctly.
• If school staff is required to assist your child with using inhalers, provide the teachers, secretary, and/or other school personnel with information on how to administer the inhaler medication correctly. 
  • Using A Diskus Inhaler
  • Using An MDI
  • MDI and Spacer with Mouthpiece
  • Using A Turbuhaler
• Encourage your child to wear a MedicAlert ™ bracelet.
• Talk to your child about the importance of not sharing inhalers with classmates.

Goal 3: Establish a school wide process for handling worsening asthma.

• Complete and provide the teacher with a current Student Asthma Management Plan. This form tells the school how to handle your child's worsening asthma.
  • It is important to inform the school of changes to your child's asthma and medications.
• Maintain open communication with teachers and school personnel regarding how to take care of your child's' asthma.
• Discuss with your child the process for handling worsening asthma at school.
• Provide classroom teachers with copies of the poster Managing Asthma Episodes available free from the Lung Association 1-800-668-7682 or 1-88-344-LUNG(5864)

Goal 4: Identify and reduce common asthma triggers within the school environment.

• Learn about your child’s triggers.
• Review the trigger checklist and identify which triggers bother your children at school.
• Inform the school and teachers of your child's asthma triggers.
• Complete and return the Student Asthma Management Plan.  This form lists your child's asthma triggers and how to handle them.
• Encourage your child to tell the teacher about personal triggers and when they are identified in the school.
• Encourage the school to use asthma friendly school supplies and products. (Examples: scent-free markers and cleaning products, dust-free chalk.)

Goal 5: Students with asthma should participate in activities to the best of their ability.

• Know how to maintain and/or regain good asthma control for your child.
  • Complete an Asthma Action Plan with your child's doctor. All children with asthma will benefit by having an Asthma Action Plan.
  • If you don't have an asthma action plan, you may order one online or from The Lung Association's Asthma Action Helpline at 1-800-668-7682 or 1-888-344-LUNG(5864).
• Review with your child how to prevent and handle symptoms related to exercise - Asthma and Exercise
• Prepare your child for school field trips.
  • Have your child carry the reliever inhaler or give it to the teacher to carry for school field trips.
  • Discuss possible triggers and how to handle them.
  • Review with your child what to do if s/he experiences asthma symptoms.
  • Provide the school a phone number where a parent/guardian can be contacted on the day of the school field trip.
• Enable your child to be in charge of asthma by providing opportunities to learn about asthma. Your child will feel more confident in managing their asthma if s/he is able to:
  • Recognize symptoms of worsening asthma.
  • Communicate to an adult about asthma symptoms and the need for help.
  • Access and use medication quickly.
• Remind your child that they need to participate in physical activities and exercise.
  • Several resources exist to learn about how to help your child exercise and remain physically active. (e.g. Asthma and Exercise)
  • Talk with an Asthma Educator about your child exercising with asthma. Contact The Lung Association's Asthma Action Helpline at 1-800-668-7682 or 1-88-344-LUNG(5864) or the Asthma Society's Asthma Support Line 1-866-787-4050 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Review with your child how to prevent and handle symptoms related to exercise:
  • Use of a warm-up period before exercising.
  • If needed, use the reliever (blue) inhaler 10-15 minutes prior to the activity.
  • Understand how to handle symptoms associated with exercise

Goal 6: Provide school personnel, parents and student body opportunities to gain a general understanding of asthma.

• Identify your own learning needs related to asthma and review appropriate materials.
• Suggest that the school offer the school based asthma program RAP – Roaring Adventures of Puff to students with asthma 
• If you have a question about asthma speak with a Certified Asthma Educator. Contact The Lung Association's Asthma Action Helpline at 1-800-668-7682 or 1-888-344-LUNG (5864) or the Asthma Society's Asthma Support Line 1-866-787-4050 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Visit the Lung Association ( The Lung Association; KidAsthma.ca; ) or Asthma Society websites ( Asthma Kids or Asthma Teens ).
• Share your asthma resources with your child's teachers, school, and/or parent council.
  • Call The Lung Association’s Asthma Action Helpline at 1-800-668-7682 or 1-888-344-LUNG (5864) to order the following resources:
    • Questions and Answers about Asthma: Information for Parents
    • The Asthma Action Handbook
    • Asthma in Children
  • Visit www.asthma.ca to view and print information.

Goal 7: Collaborate with families, health care professionals, and school personnel to create asthma friendly schools.

• Review, complete, and return all asthma-related forms to the school.  Let your child's school know that your child has asthma. Ask to receive a School Asthma Information Package.  The package contains:
  • Authorization for Medication Use form  (Board specific)
  • Student Asthma Management Plan 
  • Parents/Guardian Responsibility Checklist  
  • Student with Asthma Responsibility Checklist 
  • MedicAlert^TMfact sheet
• Review with your child the Student with Asthma Responsibility Checklist  to ensure that your child understands his/her role for creating an asthma friendly school.
• Advocate for and/or become involved with your child's school for creating an asthma friendly environment.
• If you have a question about asthma speak with a Certified Asthma Educator. Call The Lung Association’s Asthma Action Helpline at 1-800-668-7682 or 1-888-344 -LUNG(5864)  OR the Asthma Society's Asthma Support Line at 1-866-787-4050.