School Asthma Policies Can Save Lives

Asthma attacks make breathing difficult, but avoiding triggers and properly using medication can reduce asthma symptoms and save lives. CDC′s National Asthma Control Program supports laws allowing children to carry medication at school.

Just ten years ago, children in many states were not allowed to carry their own emergency medication for asthma or allergic reactions in school, on school property, or on a school bus. But thanks to the work of asthma advocacy organizations, by 2010, every state had passed laws permitting “self-carry” for asthma medication, and all but three states had passed similar laws for medication for other life–threatening conditions, such as severe allergic reactions. Rhonda Mitchell, a Georgia mother who lost her son to asthma, worked closely with a CDC partner, the American Lung Association, to advocate for self–carry laws in Georgia.

Tragedy proves need for self-carry policies in schools

Just as the last bell rang at his new elementary school in January 2001, 10–year–old Kellen Bolden, Mitchell′s son, had an asthma attack. He did not have permission to carry his inhaler, nor was he familiar with the layout of the school, so he went straight to the school bus. Kellen collapsed as he was boarding the bus and was rushed to the hospital, but, tragically, it was too late. At 3:10 pm, about the same time he would have arrived home from school, he was pronounced dead. Mitchell says, “That was the worst day of my life.”

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School Asthma Policies Can Save Lives

Acute Asthma Attacks Can Be Controlled with Medication

Rhonda Mitchell answers questions at World Asthma Day event at CDC

Based on CDC statistics reported in the last year, an estimated 8.6 million adults and 4.1 million children had an asthma attack, and more than 3,400 people died from asthma-related disease. Although anyone can have asthma, children are especially vulnerable.

Asthma triggers affect breathing

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. In most cases, the cause of asthma is unknown, but doctors do know that in people who have the disease, something causes the airways of their lungs to narrow or become blocked, making it hard to breathe. Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be controlled with proper medical management.
People who have asthma have it all the time, but they have asthma attacks only when a “trigger” like tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust, respiratory virus, or house dust mites bothers their airways. During an attack or episode, they may cough and wheeze or become short of breath. Sometimes an episode is so severe they need emergency medical attention to breathe normally again.

Asthma medication can help control asthma attacks

Adults and children who have asthma often can control their symptoms by avoiding their triggers and by using medications that come in two types—quick relief and long-term control. People with asthma use quick–relief medications when they have an asthma attack. Rapid access to medications like these can save the lives of those who have severe asthma attacks.
http://www.cdc.gov/24-7/protectingPeople/asthma/acuteAsthma.html

State laws now allow students with asthma to carry and use their medication at school

Mother smiling at her child who has an inhaler in her hand

People with asthma can live full lives with proper asthma care

Kellen Bolden was diagnosed with asthma when he was just 4 months old. Growing up, he spent much of his time in hospital rooms or emergency departments. At 10 years old, he was taking 12 different medications. In spite of his illness, Kellen remained active and positive. He was an honor roll student and a youth deacon in his church; he participated in football and other sports and had fun with his friends.
Kellen′s mother took every precaution to protect her son from the health effects of asthma. “I didn′t know much about asthma,” she says, “so I relied mostly on the knowledge of the doctors and nurses at the hospitals. He had the best team of doctors, even a team of pulmonologists.” But without his quick relief inhaler, Kellen was unprotected from a sudden asthma attack.

Children need quick access to asthma medication at school

Before self–carry laws were passed, students gave their asthma medication to the school nurse or administrator. If a child had an asthma attack or a severe allergic reaction, school personnel brought the medication to the child or the child went to the clinic. But for children like Kellen with life threatening asthma, time is critical.

Her profound grief over the loss of her son compelled Rhonda Mitchell to protect other children from Kellen′s fate. She began to work with the American Lung Association in Georgia to urge the legislature to write and pass a new law permitting children to carry their asthma medication at school.

CDC's National Asthma Control Program funds asthma programs

The American Lung Association is one of hundreds of agencies supported by CDC′s National Asthma Control Program. Since 1999, the program, housed in CDC′s National Center for Environmental Health, has joined with CDC′s Division of Adolescent and School Health in providing funds and technical assistance to states, cities, school programs, and non-governmental organizations to overcome the continuing challenges of asthma.

CDC′s funded programs have helped improve asthma care and surveillance, train health professionals, and educate people with asthma, their families, and the public. In addition, CDC´s National Asthma Control Program has supported national programs to reduce air pollution and improve asthma management in schools.

State laws now permit students to carry asthma medication at school

On April 22, 2002, thanks to CDC′s support, the work of the American Lung Association in Georgia and Rhonda Mitchell, the Georgia General Assembly passed the Kellen Edwin Bolden Act permitting children with asthma or severe allergies to carry and administer their own medication at school subject to the policy established by each school district.

In the following years, other states also passed such laws. But many states still give each school system the choice to implement self–carry policies or to continue requiring students to give their medication to the school nurse or another school staff member.
http://www.cdc.gov/24-7/protectingPeople/asthma/stateLaws.html

Discuss an asthma management plan with your child′s physician and school authorities

Rhonda Mitchell speaking at World Asthma Day event at CDC

Ask your child's doctor for an asthma action plan

Good medical care is essential for children with asthma. Kellen Bolden′s pediatric pulmonologist, Dr. LeRoy Graham, emphasizes the importance of a close relationship with a child´s doctor. “Taking responsibility for one′s health begins with good doctor–patient communication. It′s important that parents ask the doctor for a diagnosis and a clearly written asthma action plan. Patients should also leave their doctor′s office with a good understanding of their medications.” Follow the action plan closely and remove any triggers from your home. Also, discuss your child′s asthma action plan with caregivers at school, day–care, church, and elsewhere.

Find out about the asthma policy at your child´s school

Because children spend so much time at school, district and school medication policies are critical in protecting the health of those who suffer from asthma. If your child has asthma or a severe allergy, you should know your school district′s policy about students carrying and administering their own quick–relief medication.

Even school districts that do permit self–carry have different guidelines. Many of them require a document signed by a student′s physician stating that the doctor has instructed the student on the proper use and dosage of the medication and that the student should be allowed to carry and use the medication as prescribed. Check with your child′s school to see what procedures you must follow to ensure that your child can carry an inhaler or other emergency asthma or allergy medication.

In addition, every school needs an asthma action plan to create an atmosphere as free of triggers as possible, to support students with asthma, and to educate teachers and other students about asthma and what to do in the event of an asthma attack.

Personal tragedy leads to triumph for children with asthma

Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. We do not need another tragedy like the loss of Kellen Bolden to teach us that. Rhonda Mitchell has worked tirelessly to tell her son′s story to prevent this from happening again. She says, “Kellen′s passing was a tragedy that turned to triumph through advocacy for school children in Georgia, because even one asthma death is one too many.” Thanks to the work of CDC′s National Asthma Control Program and state, local, and national partners, by 2010 all 50 states had passed self–carry laws.

Asthma information, statistics, resources for parents, teachers, and schools, and links to asthma action plans and other asthma–related Web sites are available at http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has prepared a 2–page fact sheet that includes questions to ask about your child′s school asthma preparedness policies. You can read or download it at http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/asthma/creatingafs/how_asthma_friendly.pdf