School May Be More Dangerous For Connecticut Children With Asthma

Connecticut School children living with asthma may be among those facing a greater challenge when it comes to accessing their lifesaving inhalers. Connecticut, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Vermont are the only states lacking laws or regulations requiring schools to permit students to carry and use asthma inhalers.

This is among several points in an American Lung Association survey released August 20. This online survey was conducted among the parents and guardians of children with asthma.

It examined students’ access to “quick relief” medications, the use of Asthma Action Plans, and parents’ awareness of state laws allowing students to carry and use inhalers.

Results of this survey revealed that 58.7 percent of respondents were unsure if their state has a law allowing students to carry and self-administer fast-acting “quick relief” inhalers. In fact, 46 states and the District of Columbia require that the self-administration of asthma medication be allowed in public and private schools.

An overwhelming 74.4 percent of parents whose children do have inhalers at school responded that their child’s school does not allow students to keep rescue inhalers with them (in their desks, pockets, etc). Forty percent have never heard of an Asthma Action Plan, which is the recommended asthma management and communication tool for parents, physicians, and schools.

“The American Lung Association’s survey results send a dramatic red flag to parents of students with asthma and to school officials,” said Jeffrey Seyler, American Lung Association of New England president and chief executive officer. “The lack of critical communication between parents, schools and teachers is leaving children unprotected. Quick relief inhalers are necessary to use when a child is in the midst of an asthma attack, and need to be available and on hand at all times.”

Having access to “quick-relief” or “rescue” medications is critical for people with asthma; these medications immediately open the airways during an asthma attack and save lives. The longer it takes to administer quick-relief medications, the more severe the asthma attack may become.

More than 1.2 million children in New England have asthma, and are being affected by these regulations.

Nearly 22 percent of respondents indicated that their children may not have immediate access to their lifesaving inhalers during an attack. Those respondents indicated that if their children have trouble with asthma symptoms during the school day, the school calls a parent or caregiver who brings quick-relief medicine to the child; the child will not get his/her rescue medicine until they get home from school; or the school calls an ambulance.

Every state, with the exception of Connecticut, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Vermont, has a statewide law or regulation in place requiring schools to permit students to carry and use asthma inhalers.

“If a state law does exist, that does not mean that all children with asthma should be carrying and giving themselves medication; but the American Lung Association wants as many students as possible to carry their rescue inhalers,” explained Norman H. Edelman, MD, American Lung Association chief medical officer.

“For each child and each situation, the school, parents, and health care provider together must evaluate many factors,” he continued. “They need to consider the student’s maturity level, understanding of their symptoms and when they need medication, and their willingness to follow the school’s policies about carrying your own medication. That relationship among the family, school officials, and the child’s health care provider, who must be directing and communicating a specific asthma management plan, is critical.”

Working to promote asthma control with school age children, the American Lung Association (ALA) has partnered with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA.) Both agencies are focusing their efforts on strengthening communication between schools and parents.

The hopes for this partnership are to better serve the needs of children with asthma, by educating their necessary providers.

“We applaud the American Lung Association for working to raise awareness about back-to-school asthma,” said AASA Executive Director Paul Houston. “AASA is committed to ensuring that district-level decisionmakers play an active role in asthma management, and we are committed to increasing the capacity of these leaders to work with parents to provide the safest learning environment for their children.”

Mr Seyler believes a great deal of work is necessary to ensure the safety of students with asthma.

“Parents need to be more involved, making sure the necessary prescribed rescue inhalers are at school with their children; Asthma Action Plans need to be completed by the child’s physician and provided to both the family and school for use,” Mr Seyler said. “Also, schools must communicate clearly with parents and follow state law and local policies to ensure that students have immediate access to lifesaving medications.”

“We are very grateful to the parents who took time to complete our survey and help us move forward to better serve children’s asthma needs,” Mr Seyler added. “These results help the American Lung Association and our partners focus our efforts on increased asthma management for parents and school officials.”

Tips for parents of children with asthma, as well as resources for schools and health care providers, are available at www.lungusa.org, or by calling 800-LUNG-USA.