How to Create an Asthma Action Plan for School Students

Asthma is a chronic – and sometimes debilitating – condition. It’s also very common, affecting nearly 1 in 13 Americans. People with asthma need to know how to manage their condition effectively. But how do you do this?

In most cases, this means having what’s known as an “asthma action plan”. Here’s how action plans work and what to include in your child’s plan.

What Is an Asthma Action Plan?

Think of an asthma action plan as a personal worksheet. It sets out, in writing, the steps to take to control your – or your child’s – asthma. You can share the worksheet with any adults in your child’s life. This way, they’ll know what to do if your child has an attack.

At Asthmaniac, we create a plan for you.  Having this plan will help you feel in control of your child’s health and makes living with asthma a little easier.

What’s Included in a Simple Asthma Action Plan?

A Asthma Action Plan includes the following:

• Emergency contact information
• Asthma medication
• “Red flags” for worsening asthma
• What to do if asthma is getting worse

Following an asthma action plan can help to prevent asthma attacks or mitigate how serious they get.

Who Needs an Asthma Action Plan?

The simple answer is everyone with asthma. There’s no asthma sufferer who won’t benefit from a clear plan to help manage their condition.

Asthma plans are especially important for more severe forms of asthma. They’re also very useful for children who might not recognize when their symptoms are getting worse. Adults, looking at the plan, can spot the signs and act quickly.

What is Included in Asthma Action Plans for Schools

An Asthma Action Plan contains the following information.

General Information

Let’s start with the basics. Every action plan should contain:

• Child’s name
• Primary doctor and contact details
• Emergency contact name and contact information

You might also include details of the local hospital.

Personal Asthma Zones

Asthma “zones” are essentially a scale to help you measure day-to-day fluctuations in asthma control. Usually, we have three zones – green, yellow, and red.

• Green: Child feels good. Asthma symptoms are under control. Medication is working. This is the zone we want your child to be in every day.

• Yellow: The child is experiencing asthma symptoms. This could mean they’ve been exposed to a trigger or have a virus. Or, their medicine isn’t working so well anymore.

• Red: At this point, the medicine isn’t working anymore. Asthma symptoms won’t resolve and the child feels worse.  Asthma attacks that put you or your child in the this need Emergency Room attention.

Every child’s zones are personal to them. However, signs which could indicate sliding into the “yellow” zone are:

• Struggling with normal daily activities
• Waking up at night feeling breathless
• Peak flow readings are dropping
• Some cough, chest tightness, or wheezing

Children entering the “red” zone may have symptoms such as:

• Increased breathlessness
• Can’t speak due to breathing difficulties
• Peak flow readings are continuing to go down
• Can’t do normal activities or any exercise

Asthmaniac, your Online Asthma Doctor, can create an action plan that works for your child.

Asthma Triggers

Asthma triggers are anything which sets off your child’s condition or makes it worse. Common triggers include mold, exercise, viruses, or allergens.

Listing asthma triggers in the Asthma Action Plan can help teachers and school staff predict when a child’s asthma might worsen. This alerts them to when a child may need closer monitoring.

Asthma Medication

Each plan includes the medicines a child takes in their “green” and “yellow” zones. The dosage and how often/when they should take the medicine in included.

Typically, a plan will include directions for any quick relief medicine for when your child slips into the “red” zone.

How to Handle Asthma Emergencies

Thankfully, asthma mortality rates are declining in the US. One reason for this could be knowing how to act quickly and avoid asthma attacks becoming emergencies. If a child enters the “red zone”, schools should take the following action:

• Administer any emergency medicine
• Call 911
• Contact the emergency contact (usually a parent)

Get a Simple Asthma Action Plan for School Students

A simple asthma action plan can help you and your child feel more in control of their asthma. But it can also save their life. Do you need help managing your child’s asthma at school? Asthmaniac can help.

As the Online Asthma Doctor, we can help with everything from reviewing medicine to writing an action plan. Contact Asthmaniac to take back control of your child’s asthma today.