As summer break winds down and students prepare to head back to school, parents and caregivers of children with asthma must take special care to ensure their students are poised to stay healthy throughout the school year. So, in addition to grabbing that list of school supplies, we have a helpful asthma care checklist.

What’s Included in the Asthma Care Checklist?

– Asthma Basics: Brush up on your asthma knowledge with this free online course. Learn what causes asthma symptoms and how to respond in case of an emergency. Feel free to share this course with others and arm your child’s “village” with the necessary tools to ensure your kids stay healthy at school.

– It’s important to know that all 50 states have laws in place that allow students with asthma to carry and self-administer asthma quick-relief inhalers and other lifesaving medicines. Use our Student Readiness Assessment Tool if your child is ready to carry their asthma medication. The tool will also help identify if your child has skills to learn and help devise a plan to get them prepared.

– Tips for creating an Asthma Action Plan: As kids grow, their medical needs change. Discuss your child’s asthma action plan with their physician for any updates and consider getting a peak flow meter baseline reading to track throughout the school year.

– This is also a great time to make sure students know how to use their medicines correctly and properly. It may be useful to have students demonstrate how they’re using medicine(s) during a doctor visit. Discuss the need for a valved-holding chamber or a spacer or perhaps a nebulizer.

– Monitor indoor air quality at your school and home. Asthma accounts for nearly 14 million lost school days every year in the U.S. By keeping allergens — including secondhand smoke — and sources of pollution out of your home, we can reduce asthma episodes and keep our kids healthy.

Going back to school can be an exciting time. With proper preparation, parents and school staff can ensure their students with asthma have a healthy start to the new school year. For more information and tips about asthma, visit Lung.org/back-to-school or call the Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA to talk to a respiratory therapist.