In the Schools

Asthma is a common chronic disease among children. One in 10 households with children report having a child with asthma. Schools and child care centers play a unique role in asthma management.

Asthma, when under-treated or untreated, can hinder a child’s ability to attend, take part, and learn in school. Most children and youth spend an average of six to nine hours a day in school or child care centers and programs. School and child care staff must be alert to asthma symptoms and have policies in place to help children manage asthma.

Rules and regulations:

The Revised Code of Washington (RCW 28A.210.370) requires that:

All school districts provide in-service training on asthma for school personnel.
All school districts adopt policies for asthma rescue.
Schools allow students to carry and self-administer prescribed medication to treat asthma and severe allergic reactions.

Staff training:

Asthma Management in Educational Settings (AMES). A CD of the manual can also be ordered from the Department of Health.

Washington State Uniform Staff Training Policy-Students With Asthma (PDF, 34KB) (RCW 28A.210.370) requires that all school districts provide in-service training on asthma for school personnel.

Activities and resources for schools:

“Management of Asthma Exacerbations: Suggested Emergency Nursing Protocol for Students with Asthma Symptoms Who Don’t Have a Personal Asthma Action Plan”(PDF, 1.0MB)

Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a Coordinated School Health Program (CDC).

Anti-idling project Stop vehicle idling to improve air quality around your school.

Indoor Air Quality-Tools for Schools, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is an action kit for helping schools improve air quality.

In the Schoolyard and Beyond, available in both English (PDF, 425KB) and Spanish (PDF, 448KB), focuses on six main actions that show how families, communities, and schools can create an organized approach to managing childhood asthma.

Additional resources:

Coordinated School Health Program brings together school administrators, teachers, other staff, students, families, and community members to:

assess health needs
set priorities
plan, implement, and evaluate school health programs.

CDC Healthy Youth! Program has information about asthma and youth.

School Environmental Health and Safety

Indoor Air Quality