If your child has asthma, let the staff at their childcare center, preschool or school know. Your doctor should write your child’s asthma action plan so that staff understand how to care for your child and what to do in an emergency.
What parents need to do#
At the start of every year, you should:
- Tell your child’s school or childcare center about your child’s asthma.
- Give them an up-to-date asthma action plan, written by your doctor.
- Make sure the school has the medicine your child needs, and a spacer if one is required.
- Give them your emergency contact details and your doctor’s contact details.
Keep in touch with the school and let them know if your child’s health needs change. Update the asthma action plan whenever it changes.
For a school camp or excursion, make sure your child has enough medicine to last the whole time they are away.
What staff can do in an emergency#
In an emergency, staff may give your child reliever medicine without telling you first. They should contact you as soon as they can, and call an ambulance if needed.
Responsibilities of childcare centers and preschools#
Services that care for or educate children must have steps in place to keep your child safe. At all times, they must have at least one staff member on site with current, approved training in:
- first aid
- emergency asthma management
- anaphylaxis
Responsibilities of schools#
Schools should have:
- a school management plan for asthma
- an asthma care plan and a student health support plan for each child with asthma
- staff trained in first aid and asthma management
- asthma first aid kits
- asthma care plans that also cover school camps and excursions
- policies to support students with exercise-induced asthma
Schools should keep parents informed about any health and education issues, including how often a child is having asthma symptoms at school and how severe the asthma is while they are there. They should also let parents know about the use of medication at school.
Where to get help#
Sources & further reading
For evidence-based global guidance on this topic, consult authoritative public-health bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, NHS, and ECDC.