Parents urged to ready kids, teachers for asthma flare-ups

PARENTS and schools have been warned to prepare for another bout of back-to-school asthma as children return from summer holidays.

Helen West has an asthma plan for her kids Aidan, 13, and Ella, 10. Picture: KYLIE ELSE

PARENTS and schools have been warned to prepare for another bout of back-to-school asthma.

Each year there is a spike in cases in the first month of children returning from holidays, but new research from Asthma Australia shows one in five parents don’t provide schools with spare reliever medication or an asthma action plan.

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With three out of four asthmatic children experiencing at least two flare-ups each school year, Asthma Australia is launching a campaign alerting parents of the need to help schools prepare.

In the 3½ weeks after school returns, asthma-related emergency department presentations more than double each year.

While the exact reason has not been established, it’s believed to be a combination of factors including exposure to peers’ viruses and a ­reduction in preventive measures while off school.

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Parents have been advised to ensure they have a spare reliever inhaler and spacer at school.

With three weeks of the summer break remaining, Asthma Australia CEO Michele Goldman said it was time for parents to start preparing. “It happens every single year,” she said.

“People become more lax during holidays, they might go away and be out of their ordinary routine and some children are not taking their preventer medication regularly as they would be during the normal school days.

“Preventer medication works cumulatively and you only get the maximum protection if you are taking it on a daily basis.” Ms Goldman said parents needed to ensure they had a spare reliever inhaler and spacer at school.

She said it was important teachers were made aware of the child’s action plan, especially if the child was changing classes.

Aberfeldie mum Helen West visits a doctor each year to obtain an asthma plan for her children Ella, 10 and Aidan 13, to start school.

“It gives you peace of mind to know we have filled out the asthma plan. It shows what are my child’s triggers, the teachers are aware of them, what they should do and what their medication they need,” she said.

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For more information, call Asthma, Australia’s national helpline on 1800 278 462

Originally published as Parents urged to ready kids, teachers for asthma flare-ups