If your child has asthma, you’re not alone. A strong support network ensures they’re safe, understood, and cared for — at home, at school, and beyond.
Traci Gonzales, APRN, PNP-C, AE-C
National Medical Spokesperson, American Lung Association; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Texas Children’s Hospital
Asthma affects about 4.5 million children in the United States. It’s a chronic condition that makes it difficult to move air in and out of the lungs, often causing coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or breathing difficulties that can become life-threatening without prompt treatment. This is why it is so important that the adults in your child’s circle of care — where they live, learn, and play — are informed, prepared, and confident in how to manage your child’s asthma.
To help build your child’s asthma team, here are eight key conversations to have:
1. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider
Before each school year (or whenever your child’s symptoms change), meet with your child’s healthcare provider. Together, you can create an asthma action plan — a simple, step-by-step guide that lists their everyday medicines and spells out what to do if symptoms flare or an emergency strikes. Share this plan with all adults in your child’s circle of care. Also, go over how to use inhalers correctly; talk about common triggers like smoke, dust, or pollen; and make sure your child is up to date on vaccines for illnesses that can worsen asthma, like COVID-19 and the flu.
2. Share the plan with the school nurse or health office
Share your child’s updated asthma action plan with the school health office before the start of the school year. Make sure any medications left with the school health office are clearly marked with your child’s name and detailed instructions for use. Some schools allow children to carry and use asthma medication on their own, as long as they can do so correctly and have approval from their healthcare provider. Talk with your child’s provider to see if this is a good option for your family. Also, ask the school if they stock quick-relief inhalers for emergency use.
3. Update your child’s teachers
Teachers should have a copy of your child’s asthma action plan, along with any specific details about their condition, including triggers, symptoms, and signs that your child needs immediate treatment and care. If possible, review the plan together with the teacher and talk through any concerns so they feel ready to help if needed.
4. Meet with school administrators
This is a great opportunity to ask bigger-picture questions, like whether staff have received asthma training. You can also ask if the school has policies in place to support an asthma-friendly environment, such as tobacco and mold-free facilities, limiting outdoor activity on poor air quality days, and whether quick-relief inhalers are available for emergencies.
5. Include coaches and athletic staff
Asthma should not keep your children from being active. As with other care partners, coaches and athletic staff need a copy of your child’s asthma action plan, access to medication, and an understanding of how to react in the event of a breathing emergency. Ideally, coaching staff can recognize asthma triggers, including days when air pollution may exacerbate asthma symptoms, and provide your child the opportunity to remain indoors or limit outdoor activity.
6. Don’t forget before- and after-school staff
If your child attends programs outside of regular school hours, share the asthma action plan and medications with those staff members as well. It’s okay to ask if they’re trained on asthma care and if they have access to emergency medication.
7. Talk to the bus drivers
Make sure your child’s bus driver is aware of their asthma and not only has a copy of the asthma action plan but also knows what to do if your child has a breathing emergency. It’s also a good idea to ask if they have received any training on emergency asthma care.
8. Loop in family and friends
Friends and family members who regularly spend time with your child play an important role in their asthma care. Make sure they understand your child’s asthma action plan, can recognize common triggers, and know how to respond if symptoms start or medication is needed.
Managing asthma is a team effort. By having these important conversations and sharing your child’s asthma action plan, you’re not just spreading information, you’re building a circle of support that gives others the confidence to step in when it matters most. You don’t have to do this alone; many organizations offer free educational and support services that can help families like yours. When everyone is informed and prepared, your child has the best chance to live the full, active, and joyful life they deserve.
