COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools

Schools face major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2).

As schools develop and follow strategies for learning, school meals, and physical activity while preventing the spread of the coronavirus, some policies can impact children and staff with asthma. Required and/or suggested face masks, physical distancing, schedule changes, and cleaning practices are reshaping learning environments. It’s important to understand how this may affect students and staff with specific health needs like asthma.

AAFA’s COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools is designed as a supplement to (not as a replacement for) current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state, and school district guidelines. It includes:

• Checklists that will help school nurses and other staff create a healthier, more asthma-friendly learning experience. These lists include:
  • Health and hygiene practices
  • Medicines
  • Environment (air ventilation and more)
• Respiratory symptoms chart (in English and Spanish) to differentiate between allergy, cold, flu, and COVID-19 symptoms
• Understanding asthma basics
• Information on asthma-friendly school settings
• Sample letter for school nurses asking parents for an inhaler and spacer to be kept at school
• Resources for administrators, school nurses, teachers, and facilities staff

Sign up to receive a copy of AAFA’s COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools.
You will be alerted if any changes are applied to the toolkit or future editions are released.

 Visit AAFA’s Asthma in Schools webpage for additional resources to manage asthma in schools.

.@AAFAnational's new comprehensive toolkit contains guidance to help your school to manage and prevent asthma among students during the #COVID19 pandemic. More info @ aafa.org/schools-covid19 #schoolnurse #schooladministration #educators #teachers

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Originally published July 2020. Updated September 2021.