Improving access to asthma medication in schools: Recommendations from school leaders

Although all 50 states have laws that allow children with asthma to carry and use asthma medications while at school, some kids are still being denied access to these lifesaving medications during the school day. School officials may deny access to inhalers due to a fear of potential liability from allowing a child to carry their own medication. Some of the concerns stem from questions, “What if the child uses the medicine incorrectly? What if the child uses the medication and doesn't let an adult know? Or, what if a child allows another child to use their inhaler?” In 2013, the Lung Association completed an analysis of existing state laws and policies regarding access to asthma medications in schools. In addition, the organization received feedback from school personnel about awareness and interpretation of existing laws and experiences with actual practices at the school level. The Lung Association prepared a report based on a comparison of the assessment survey findings with existing state laws and policies. The Lung Association pulled together school-based organizations to develop consensus-based recommendations for overcoming barriers to implementation of existing inhaler laws and policies. The purpose of this session is to empower school health leaders to overcome barriers in order to ensure that students with asthma have access life-saving asthma medications while at school. Participants will be introduced to template policies and online learning resources available to create asthma-friendly policies, and provided case studies that demonstrate proven effective strategies to keeping kids with asthma safe and healthy during the school day.