Asthma Awareness
Asthma is the most common long term medical condition in children. It is a long-term inflammatory condition that affects the airway.
We positively welcome all pupils with asthma and encourage pupils with asthma to achieve in all aspects of school life by having a clear policy that is understood by school staff.
At Hilldene Primary School we:
- Recognise that asthma is a widespread, serious but controllable condition and welcome all pupils with asthma.
- Ensure that pupils with asthma can and do participate fully in all aspects of school life, including break times, lunch times, PE lessons and school trips.
- Recognise that pupils with asthma need immediate access to reliever inhalers at all times.
- Keep a register of all pupils with asthma and the medicines they take.
- Record and track in school use of asthma pumps.
- Ensure that school staff, through asthma awareness training, know what to do in an asthma attack.
Exercise, activity and asthma
Exercise and physical activity is good for everyone, including children and young people with asthma. The majority of children and young people should be able to take part in any sport, exercise or activity they enjoy, as long as their asthma is under control. For some children and young people exercise is their only trigger (the condition is often known as exercise-induced asthma), while for others it is one of many triggers. However, as exercise is part of healthy living, it is one asthma trigger that should be managed, not avoided.
Asthma Reviews
Asthma is a long-term condition that needs to be treated on an individual basis. Just like visiting the dentist or the optician, it is important that children and young people with asthma have regular review appointments with their doctor or asthma nurse to monitor their asthma symptoms, the medicines they are taking and any side effects. Most children and young people should have a review every six to 12 months, or more regularly if they have just been diagnosed.
Personal Asthma Plans
Every parent/carer of a child with asthma should be offered a written personal asthma action plan for their child by their child’s doctor or asthma nurse. The child or young person’s doctor or asthma nurse should complete their personalised plan in discussion with the parent/carer at the child’s regular asthma review. The plan can then be shared with school and includes information needed to help their child keep control of their asthma, including:
- How their child can better control their asthma.
- Details about their child’s asthma medicines.
- How to tell when their child’s asthma symptoms are getting worse and what they should do about it.
- Keep a register of all pupils with asthma and the medicines they take.
- What to do if their child has an asthma attack.
School Asthma Card
A School Asthma Card is a written record of the information a school needs about a particular pupil’s asthma – their symptoms, triggers, medicines and emergency contact details. School Asthma Cards are sent to the parents/carers to be filled out with their child’s doctor or asthma nurse. Parents/carers need to update or exchange the card if their child’s condition or treatment changes.
For more information please follow one of the useful links/tabs below.