For many parents of children who live with asthma, going back to school raises a number of concerns. Will the school staff be prepared to help if an attack occurs? What can be done to help prevent an attack from happening?
Rochelle Doctor is the mother of Jordan, 10, who has asthma. She says always gets the back to school jitters.
"We need to make sure his medications are refilled," Rochelle said. "We need to make sure the nurse has an ample amount of medication on hand."
But according to a recent poll conducted by the American Lung Association, a startling number of parents are not taking basic steps to manage their child's asthma while at school.
"Every year, September and October are number one months for emergency visits and severe asthma related complications so it is important to have that talk before the school season begin," Dr.Clifford Bassett, of Long Island College Hospital, said.
The data revealed that less than half of the parents polled spoke with the teacher about their child's asthma. Nor did they make sure the child's medicine was available at school.
As a pediatrician and mother of three children who battle asthma, Donna Backus is all too familiar with the anxiety parents of asthmatic children face at the start of the school year.
"Education is power," Donna said. "If you know how to manage the child's asthma when it's starting you don't get into those extreme flare ups."
The American Lung Association recommends that every child with asthma should have a written asthma action plan developed with the child's physician that details the child's specific asthma triggers, medications, instructions during physical activity and an emergency plan.
Some experts also say you should also schedule a flu shot for your child if they have asthma.
According to the American Lung Association, preventing influenza may reduce asthma episodes and trips to the emergency room.
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