COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools

Schools face major challenges as many reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

As schools develop new strategies for learning, school meals, and physical activity while preventing the spread of the new coronavirus, some policies can impact children and staff with asthma. Required and/or suggested face masks, physical distancing, schedule changes, and new cleaning practices will reshape 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 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 August 2020, March 2021.