Tools for Schools

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) believes that schools should adopt policies for the management of asthma that encourage the active participation of students in the self-management of their disease, and allow for the most consistent, active participation in all school activities. These policies should allow:

• A smoke-free environment for all school activities.
• Access to health services supervised by a school nurse.
• A written medication policy that allows safe, reliable, and prompt access to medications in the least restrictive way during all school-related activities and self-managed administration of medication consistent with the needs of the individual child and the safety of others.
• An asthma action plan is a vital part of each school child's asthma care.
• A school-wide emergency plan for handling severe exacerbations of asthma.
• Staff development for all school personnel on school medication policies, emergency procedures, and procedures for communicating health concerns about students.
• Development of a supportive and healthy environment that respects the abilities and needs of each student with asthma.