Tools for Teaching Students With Asthma/Allergies and Their Parents

Individualized Health Plan

Source of following list:
School Nurse Source Book of Individualized Education Plans, Vol. 1
Sunrise River Press

An individualized health plan (IHP) is crucial to ensuring the health and learning capacity of the child with asthma. Nursing interventions required to create and maintain an IHP for the student with asthma include the ability to:

1) Develop an asthma action plan

2) Obtain medication orders and authorization for any asthma medications needed at school

3) Keep accurate records of asthma episodes

4) Inservice teachers and other appropriate school staff

5) Assist physical education teachers to modify physical education requirements PRN

6) Monitor classroom and physical education activity tolerance

7) Assist the student in administering prescribed medications

8) Monitor medication administration and reinforce proper technique PRN

9) Discuss asthma management measures with the student

10) Provide individual (and group) health education opportunities

11) Assist parents/guardians in talking with their child's teachers about their child's asthma

The tools included in this Individualized Health Plan area will ensure the fulfillment of goals 1 through 3.

The tools in the School Nurse as Teacher section will aid in the fulfillment of goals 4 through 6.

The remainder of the tools in the Teaching Students with Asthma and Their Parents section will aid in the fulfillment of goals 7 through 11.

Downloadable Asthma Action Plan

This is a form concerning your student's medication needs and specific asthma warning signs which is to be filled out by the parents and physician of your student with asthma and/or allergies.

A copy of this plan should also be readily available to any teacher or physical education instructor who may be overseeing the student with asthma during the time of an episode.

If you feel that your student(s) with asthma is uninsured and therefore does not have a primary care physician, you can find information and downloadable forms on SchoolAsthmaAllergy.com under Low- or No-Cost Insurance for Kids.

Download: the Asthma Action Plan (English).

Link to: the Asthma Action Plan (Spanish). From the ALA of WA Asthma Management Page, click on Mi Plano de Asma, print and fill out with your primary care physician.

Report from School Nurse to Primary Care Physician

This is a report for you to fill out and send to the physician of your student with asthma and/or allergic disease.

It outlines current issues as you and other staff members observe them, including frequency of visits to the nurse's office, need for medications and the student's number of days of absenteeism.

You can send this report home with your student with a recommendation to his/her parents that they seek an appointment with their child's physician.

You may choose to print out and send one or several of the Communication Tools listed in the next section to accompany this report.

If you feel that your student(s) with asthma is uninsured and therefore does not have a primary care physician, you can find information and downloadable forms on SchoolAsthmaAllergy.com under Low- or No-Cost Insurance for Kids.

Download Report from School Nurse to Primary Care Physician.

Communication Tools

Sometimes it's not easy for the caregivers and teachers of students with asthma/allergies to figure out how best to communicate to one another concerning a student's condition.

Here are some sample letters and forms that may help:

Letter to School Nurse from Physician/Parent

This is a model letter to you, the school nurse, from the parents and physician of your student with asthma and/or allergies.

You can send this letter template to your student's parents and physician along with the form titled Report from School Nurse to Primary Care Physician. It should be filled out by the student's parents and physician.

Please indicate that you would like this letter back, as a guide for you and a sign of commitment to co-care from your student's physician and parents.

Download

Model Letter to Physical Education Instructor from Physician/Parent

This is a model letter to your school's physical education instructor from the parents and physician of your student with asthma and/or allergies.

You can send this letter template to your student's parents and physician along with the form titled Report from School Nurse to Primary Care Physician. It should be filled out by the student's parents and physician.

Please indicate that you would like this letter back, as a guide for the physical education instructor at your school, and a sign of commitment to co-care between your student's coach, physician and parents.

Download

Student Asthma Card

This is a form concerning your child's medication needs and specific asthma warning signs which is to be filled out by the parents and physician of your student with asthma and/or allergies.

You can send this card to your student's parents and physician along with the form titled Report from School Nurse to Primary Care Physician.

Please indicate that you would like this card back. Along with the Asthma Action Plan, this form can be filed in your office for information concerning your student's medication and treatment requirements.

Download the Student Asthma Action Card.

Child Care Asthma/Allergy Action Card

The Child Care Asthma/Allergy Action Card is an excellent resource for your childcare provider. It includes information about your child’s medication plans, signs of trouble and emergency steps to take.

Download the Child Care Asthma/Allergy Action Card.

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Peak Flow Instructions

This is a more detailed set of instructions than the peak flow monitoring sheet provided in the Teaching Visual Aids Kit.

These are good instructions to use if you are actively teaching your student to use a peak flow meter, or if your student is older or more mature and can absorb information by him/herself or is ready to begin peak flow monitoring.

This sheet is also valuable for sending home with your students for their parents to study.

How to Use Your Peak Flow Meter From the "Practical Guide for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma." (NHLBI)

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Peak Flow Meter Diary

This is a downloadable diary that you can print and offer to the student with asthma who is ready to begin peak flow monitoring.

Help the student understand when and how often to write down peak flow numbers in the diary and why it is important to do so.

This piece should be used in conjunction with an Asthma Action Plan that includes a description of peak flow zones.

Download a Peak Flow Meter Diary.

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Trigger Sheets

An extended list of triggers which includes management actions for each trigger from the Asthma Learning Lab.

The triggers in this section are divided into Allergic Triggers, Environmental Triggers and Physical Triggers.

Click on one or all of the above categories that concern you in relation to your student with asthma.

Print the management sheet(s) and give to your student, or send home or mail to his/her parents.

You may also decide to print and give sheets to staff members, eg, Allergic Triggers (for the reference Food/food additives) to cafeteria staff; Physical Triggers (for the reference Exercise) to the physical education instructor.

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Asthma Facts and Instructions from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

In this section you will find clear and informative facts from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America concerning asthma, plus instructions for medication delivery.

You will find fact sheets on the following subjects:

• Asthma
• Childhood Asthma
• Dry Powder Inhalers
• Exercise and Asthma
• Indoor Air Quality
• Asthma in Infants and Young Children
• Metered Dose Inhalers
• Peak Flow Meters

These sheets are ideal for printing out and giving to your student with asthma, and/or sending home or mailing to his/her parents.

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List of Asthma/Allergy Books

Sometimes a good book is the best answer.

Following is a list of special books that you can print and give to your students with asthma and their parents.

Or perhaps you or other staff members can select some of these books and start an Asthma/Allergy Library at your school.

Go to Books about Asthma.

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Online Asthma and Allergy Resources

Here are some great online resources from our Information Partners concerning asthma and allergy management!

American Lung Association's vital Asthma and Children information

Breatherville, a village of learning from the Asthma and Allergy Network: Mothers of Asthmatics

The AAAAI's Be Stepwise About Your Asthma program: learn to work with your doctor to understand your asthma symptoms, and make sure the medication you are taking matches your symptoms.

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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Chapters and Educational Support Groups

For the parents of your students with asthma and/or allergies, a membership to an organization like The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America can be a lifesaver.

Chapters are an integral part of AAFA, forming the grassroots foundation of the organization. AAFA chapters are the primary delivery mechanism for AAFA programs and services nationwide, providing direct support to people with asthma and allergies, as well as their families and health care professionals.

Chapter activities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Chapter membership
• Regular newsletters
• Educational Programs
• General information and educational material
• Special events and community outreach
• Equipment loans
• Scholarships
• Speaker's bureau
• Emergency assistance
• Hotlines and education/support groups

Click here for more information on Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Chapters in your area.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America also offers specific educational support groups. These groups include Food Allergy Support, Adult Groups for adults with asthma, Support for Asthmatic Youth, and Parent Groups.

Click here for more information on Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Educational Support Groups in your area.

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