AAFA supports school policies that promote access to life-saving medicines to treat students and staff who experience asthma attacks or severe allergic reactions. Since 2012, most states have passed laws that allow or require schools to keep a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for use in allergy emergencies. States are considering laws that will allow schools to keep a supply of emergency asthma medicine, such as albuterol, on hand.
States should implement policies that promote access to medicine and protect students and staff, including supplying schools with albuterol inhalers to be used in emergencies, appropriately training school personnel, and addressing liability concerns for those who use this medicine in good faith.
More information about each state’s laws and guidelines:
In January 2021, the School Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act (HR 2468) was signed into law. This legislation encourages states to improve asthma care in schools by giving preference for federal grants to states that adopt certain asthma management programs and policies. While this legislation does not require states to allow albuterol stocking in schools, it would encourage schools to put into place:
Updated October 2021