Guest Author - Amy Anaruk
School starts soon. Do you know what your child�s inhaler rights are?
My daughter's public elementary school follows a policy of locking up all bronchodilator inhalers and other regular student medications in a cabinet in the nurse's office. When students like my daughter experience asthma flares, they must walk down to the clinic to take their breathing treatments.
Recently, however, I discovered that Florida law allows any student to carry an inhaler, provided the school has a physician and a parental note giving permission. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, twenty-three U.S. states allow students to carry personal inhalers. What about where you live? If your child needs her emergency inhaler frequently, will your state allow her to keep and administer it herself?
My daughter has never gone into respiratory distress at school, but walking down to the clinic and waiting for the nurse every time she needs her inhaler does take time. Occasionally, trips to the nurse means she gets only 10 minutes to eat her lunch or misses out on half of music class, her favorite. Once she even missed her bus home.
Despite the occasional problems, I'll continue keeping the inhaler in the clinic rather than have my daughter carry it. Asthma medication is expensive, and the inhaler could get lost or stolen in her backpack or desk. But if her asthma ever worsens or she can't use her inhaler as easily as she needs to, then it�s nice to know she has the choice.
Know your rights as an asthma parent. Public schools--especially at the elementary level--prefer that students not carry their own inhalers, but your state�s laws may allow the practice. The CDC link below lists some states' guidelines, but check your local government page for the most up-to-date and accurate legislation.
Also, remember that every child in public school needs an Asthma Action Plan on file so that school personnel knows how to treat emergencies.
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"Smile, breathe and go slowly." -Thich Nhat Hanh
This article is not written by a medical professional, and information on this page should never be substituted for your physician's advice. If you have any questions about your asthma and/or allergies, you should always contact your physician first.
