ASTHMA

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ASTHMA

• MANAGING THE CHILD IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

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WHAT IS ASTHMA?

• Asthma is caused by an overactive airway which
  may cause episodes of wheezing, coughing, and
  difficult breathing.
• Asthma is sometimes caused by illness but other
  triggers of asthma attacks might include
  allergens (pollen, dust, cut grass, etc.)
  exertion or vigorous exercise emotional stress
  or anxiety rapid changes in environmental
  temperatures or humidity strong odors or
  perfumes such as colognes, potpourri, tart
  burners, perfume room deodorizers or other
  aerosols such as household cleaners and etc.

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ASTHMA

• Asthma can be life threatening and school
  personnel must act quickly if an individual is
  experiencing an asthma attack.
• A child should never be sent alone to obtain
  his/her medication since a person can collapse if
  the oxygen deprivation becomes too great.

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Symptoms of an Asthma Attack

• Students may complain or exhibit the following
• Tightness in the neck or chest
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing for prolonged periods
• Audible wheeze or unusual sounds
• Anxious appearance
• Inability to speak in full sentences without
  taking a breath or only able to whisper
• Bluish discoloration of lips, nails, mucous
  membranes around eyes/gums
• Coughing that causes choking, bluish color to
  lips or persistent vomiting (sometimes the child
  will only vomit)
• Need to stand or lean over at waist
• Decreased level of consciousness

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What if a student has an asthma attack?

• Stay calm and reassure the student in a calm
  voice
• Avoid drawing extra attention to the child but
  attempt to give them room to breathe rather
  than letting others crowd the area
• Ask the student if they carry their own inhaler
  assist he/she with administration if necessary
• If he/she does not carry an inhaler but has one
  in office- send someone to have it brought to you.

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WV State Law

• The law provides that an individual whose
  physician determines should carry their own
  inhaler, is allowed to do so with a physician
  order, parent permission, and after the physician
  and school nurse assesses that the student uses
  the inhaler properly
• Boone County Schools has a student-parent
  contract to outline responsibilities of carrying
  an inhaler

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Inhalers

• Any school personnel who travel on field trips or
  to extracurricular events with students who
  require inhalers, should seek proper training
  from the school nurse regarding administration
  and storage of these medications.

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During the Asthmatic Episode

• DO NOT LEAVE A STUDENT UNATTENDED OR SEND THEM TO
  THE OFFICE ALONE TO GET THEIR MEDICATION

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INHALER ADMINISTRATION

• Those responsible at each school, for inhaler
  administration, will be trained in more detail by
  the school nurse.
• Students tend to take their 2 puffs too rapidly
  when in distress and often the school personnel
  must slow them down so that they wait 2-4 minutes
  between puffs to get the full effect of the
  medication

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Documentation

• As with any medication, inhaler administration
  should be properly documented in a medication log
  for the student
• The school nurse should be notified if a student
  is requiring the inhaler daily or frequently
  within the same school day- doctors orders must
  be followed and sometimes the school nurse has to
  notify the doctor if problems arise.
• Some students are prescribed to receive the
  inhaler everyday prior to exercise, which is an
  exception to the above rule

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When should you notify the parent?

• Always notify the parent if a student has an
  asthma attack at school.
• If the child is requiring inhaler too frequently
  or daily and it is prescribed for emergencies
  only
• Dont forget to speak with the school nurse when
  the parent is called so that she is informed
  regarding the change in health of the student

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When to call 911 for emergency assistance?

• Call 9-1-1
• If the inhaler doesnt help after administered
  per doctors order
• The student cannot talk due to his/her shortness
  of breath or wheezing and medication does not
  help
• The students lips or fingertips look blue or
  gray and the condition appears to be worsening
  instead of improving

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When in doubt

• Inform principal and page the school nurse or
  9-1-1
• Always inform the parent as soon as possible if
  the cough is worsening, fever develops or child
  appears to be more short of breath even after
  treatment- they need to see their family
  physician that day

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NEVER

• Accept inhalers that have been prescribed for or
  used by another family member
• Inhalers need to be in the prescription box with
  name and dosage listed on the label

15
What if the child does not have the required
medication ordered?

• Inform the school nurse if the school becomes
  aware that the student is supposed to have
  emergency medication at school, appears to need
  the medication, and the family does not provide
  the medication
• Inform the nurse if the inhaler has passed the
  expiration date on the box