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School Planning Resources for Parents of Children With Asthma & Allergies

Children spend around seven hours a day in school, not including before and after school activities. Identifying, reducing and eliminating asthma triggers in the school setting is an important part of keeping asthma well-controlled for students, teachers and staff.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America offers free resources for parents, school administrators, teachers and staff to manage asthma throughout the school year.

COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools

COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools imageAs some schools work to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, some tactics may impact staff and students with asthma. Our COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools provides supplemental guidance to help schools as they develop their policies and procedures.

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Tips and Articles

Summer To-Dos Before You Send Your Child With Asthma or Allergies to School
Parents of children with asthma or food allergies need to take extra steps to prepare for a new school year. And it’s best to start preparing during the summer before. Read the steps parents should take to prepare their child and the school for the first day of school.

What School Forms Do I Need If My Child Has Asthma and Allergies?
An important part of sending your child back to school is making sure you give the school all the right forms. See our checklist of recommended forms.

Back-to-School: Students and Asthma Inhalers
Every state has a policy that allows your child to carry their quick-relief medicines while at school. But you will need to have forms so your child can do so. Learn more information letting your child carry inhalers at school.

ACT for Asthma and Allergy
There are three important aspects of asthma and allergy management: having an action plan and carrying medicines, and having a medical ID, and following a treatment plan. You and your child can make a pact to ACT for asthma and allergy to manage their conditions and prevent medical emergencies.

September Asthma Epidemic
Just after school starts, September has the highest number of asthma hospitalizations. Read about the September Asthma Epidemic and how you can help your child avoid flare-ups.

How COVID-19 Could Affect School Health Care Plans for Asthma and Allergies
Children with asthma and food allergies returning to school for in-person learning will need to have a school health care plan. Learn about the different types of plans and how COVID-19 policies could affect how asthma and allergies are managed in school.

Cleaning Your Hands With Soap Vs. Hand Sanitizer: What Is Best to Protect Yourself From COVID-19 and Other Illnesses?
Keeping your hands clean is vital as the new coronavirus continues to spread. What’s the best way to keep your hands clean? Learn about proper hand-cleaning techniques, safe and unsafe hand sanitizers, and a fun way to make sure you are getting your hands clean.

Are Asthma and Allergies Disabilities?
Learn how your child is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act if they have asthma and allergies and how it can work for you.

Kids With Food Allergies School Zone (Visit kidswithfoodallergies.org)
If you have a child with a food allergy, visit the Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) School Zone. KFA has resources and support specifically for managing food allergies, KFA is the food allergy division of AAFA.

Downloads and Resources

COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools (printable PDF)

back to school planning tipAs some schools work to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, some tactics may impact staff and students with asthma. Our COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools provides supplemental guidance to help schools as they develop their policies and procedures.

Is It COVID-19, the Flu, a Cold, Allergies or Asthma?(printable PDF)

back to school planning tipThere are some symptoms that are similar between COVID-19, a cold, the flu, seasonal allergies, and asthma. Use our symptom comparison chart to help determine if staff or a student may be feeling symptoms of asthma, allergies or a respiratory illness like COVID-19, the flu, or a cold. You will also find tips on how to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus. (Available in English and Spanish)

Ally & Andy’s Asthma and Allergy Activity Book (printable PDF)

back to school planning tipThis coloring and activity book gives children and families a fun way for children to learn common asthma triggers. It also helps them learn how to manage their asthma and food allergies. (Available in English, Spanish, and Arabic)

Asthma Action Plan (printable PDF)

back to school planning tipThis plan has information and instructions on how to manage your asthma. Asthma Action Plans tell school staff and other caregivers about your child’s asthma. You can give it to teachers, school nurses, and afterschool care staff. (Available in EnglishandSpanish)

Medicine Bags

Keep your child’s asthma medicines organized and easy to carry with AAFA medicine bags. All kids have a right to self-carry their asthma quick-relief medicines. If you want them to self-carry their medicines, get forms signed by your child’s doctor and give them to the school in advance.

QuickAsthma Cards (printable PDF)

back to school planning tipQuickAsthma Cards offer a fast way for you to learn life-saving information. You can put them in your child’s backpack or binder. Give copies to caregivers, teachers and family members.

QuickReport Card(printable PDF)

back to school planning tipThe QuickReport Card (Home) helps you make environments better for those with asthma or allergies. This card is great for parents, school staff and caregivers.

Tackle Asthma Playbook(printable PDF)

back to school planning tipAs some schools work to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, some tactics may impact staff and students with asthma. Our COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools provides supplemental guidance to help schools as they develop their policies and procedures.

Your Guide To Managing Asthma(printable PDF)

back to school planning tipWe created this guide to help you know more about managing your child’s asthma. Learn about causes, triggers, symptoms, treatment, and more.

Student Asthma Action Card(printable PDF)

back to school planning tipThe Student Asthma Action Card is great tool to give to your child’s school about asthma management. It has sections for asthma triggers, daily medicines, and emergency directions.

Child Care Asthma/Allergy Action Card(printable PDF)

back to school planning tipThis card has information you need to care for your young child with asthma or allergies. The card has sections for information about a medicine plan and a list of your child’s signs and symptoms. It also has steps on how to handle asthma and allergy emergencies.

 

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Videos

A Parent’s Guide to Asthma Care at School (August 2023) (Visit YouTube)
For kids, a new school year can be an exciting time. For parents and caregivers, a new school year may come with questions and checklists, especially if your child has asthma. With the help of your child’s asthma care team, you can create a plan of action for a successful year.

Back to School: Creating a Healthy Environment for Students and Staff With Asthma and Allergies (September 2020)
The MedicAlert Foundation and Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO AAFA, hosted a webinar on how parents and school staff can prepare for the new school year. They answered questions and shared resources on how to create a school that is food allergy and asthma friendly while preventing the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Facebook Live Chat: Back to School With Food Allergies(August 2017) (Visit YouTube)
Pediatric allergist, Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, shares tips to get your child with food allergies ready for a new school year. He also explains the options for epinephrine auto-injectors and demonstrates how to use them.

Back to School With Asthma and Food Allergies (July 2014) (Visit YouTube)
David Stukus, MD, and Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, talk about preparing to send your child to school. They also discuss how your allergist can help with back-to-school planning.

10 Things Teens Forget to Take to College − Asthma Edition (Video) (Visit YouTube)
If you’re a college student with asthma, do these 10 things before college move-in day to save you stress.

What to Do If You Get Sick at College − Asthma Edition (Video) (Visit YouTube)
If you are a college student with asthma, you need to know what to do so you can get better quickly and manage your asthma symptoms. That way you can get back to class and back to having fun with your friends.

Health Insurance Terms College Students May Not Know − Asthma Edition (Video) (Visit YouTube)
Pediatric allergist, Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, shares tips to get your child with food allergies ready for a new school year. He also explains the options for epinephrine auto-injectors and demonstrates how to use them.

Guidelines, Laws and Recommendations for Schools

State Honor Roll from Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
This is an annual report by AAFA to help identify states with the most comprehensive public policies supporting people with asthma, food allergies, anaphylaxis and related allergic diseases in grade schools. Find out how your state ranks.

COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools
This toolkit and resource guide is designed to help schools create environments that help protect students and staff with asthma while preventing the spread of the new coronavirus (SARS-C0V-2) that causes COVID-19.

Congress Passed the School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act (December 2020)
Congress passed the School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act (H.R. 2468)! AAFA is proud to have let the charge on this bill from the start to put important protections in place for children with asthma and allergies.

Are Asthma and Allergies Disabilities?
Learn how your child is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act if they have asthma and allergies and how it can work for you.

School-Based Asthma Management Program – (SAMPRO™)(Visit AAAAI.org)
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) led a stakeholder workforce that included AAFA to create SAMPRO™. AAFA officially endorses this program. This toolkit was created to improve the care of students with asthma at school. It includes resources to help your child’s school adopt SAMPRO. Share this toolkit with your child’s administration and school nurse.

Medical Review: June 2022 by John James, MD