#169 - What a School Nurse Wants Parents to Know About Asthma Peak Week

Every September, doctors see a jump in asthma attacks and ER visits. It's called Asthma Peak Week, and it usually hits the third week of September, right when families are settling into their school routines.

Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta are joined again by Liz Elliott, a nurse administrator in school health services for Montgomery County, Maryland, and a returning guest from our food allergy episode. This time, Liz answers the questions parents ask most about asthma at school, from what actually happens during a flare to whether their child's inhaler needs to be with them or in the health room.

What we cover in this episode about Asthma Peak Week from the school nurse perspective

• Can my child self-carry their inhaler? The rules on self-carry, and why kindergartners and teenagers are handled differently.
• Does the school have stock rescue inhalers (albuterol)? What stock albuterol is, and what happens if your child's own inhaler isn't there yet.
• What happens if my child has a flare at school? Learn the protocol that is in place if your child experiences an asthma attack, and what happens for kids who experience their first asthma flare.
• Signs of asthma parents might miss that their child's asthma is not under control. Nighttime awakenings and an "asthma cough" can all be early warning signs.
• Closing the gap between home and school. Why the plan your provider signs has to match what's sent to school, and what to bring on day one.

More resources

• Allergy & Asthma Network: How to Avoid the September Asthma Peak
• Allergy & Asthma Network: Asthma Action Plan
• Allergy & Asthma Network: Managing Asthma at School
• Allergy & Asthma Network: School Resources
• Listen: Ep. 135: Food Allergies in School, A School Nurse's Perspective
• CDC Asthma School Resources
• NASN Asthma CPG and Toolkit

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to AstraZeneca and Amgen for sponsoring today’s episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.