As is customary at this time of year, the Department of Health would like to remind you to ensure regular daily use of a preventer inhaler for your asthmatic child, in case you haven’t been regular during the holidays. Don’t wait for symptoms. Other tips for successful control of asthma symptoms include reviewing your child’s inhalers and their Asthma Action Plan with your child’s doctor. Remind your child to avoid triggers, and inform the school nurse about your child’s condition.
Here’s a quick review:
- Schedule a checkup with your child’s doctor. Even if your child’s asthma is well controlled your health care team can help you keep control.
- Discuss the ASTHMA ACTION PLAN with your child’s doctor. This can be shared with the school and school nurse to help with your child’s asthma care.
- Have the doctor review inhalers. Make sure you have a “preventer” inhaler (usually orange, brown or purple) for on-going control and a “reliever” or “rescue” inhaler (usually blue) to treat asthma attacks.
- Your child should be using a spacer with inhalers.
- Have the child’s doctor sign any forms from the school permitting them to carry and use their “reliever” or “rescue” inhalers while at school.
- Make sure your child’s vaccinations are up-to-date. Children with asthma are advised to have an annual flu shot.
- Teach your child about their asthma. Children should understand their asthma triggers, symptoms and action plan. Instruct your child on how to use their asthma inhaler and spacer. This may take some practice. Help is available. Contact the Asthma Nurse - Deann Trott at 332- 8915 or djtrott@gov.bm.
- Please check inhalers. Empty and expired inhalers can be a problem if your child has an attack at school.
- Rescue or Reliever inhaler(s) and spacer needs to be sent to school every day. Place them in a plastic zip-lock bag with your child’s name on it. Children should not share their inhalers or spacers.
- Establish a good routine. If your child has asthma triggers, such as dust or head colds among others, you should ensure regular daily use of their preventer inhaler before school starts. Getting this early protection on their airways will help reduce their asthma symptoms. Healthy habits such as eating well-balanced meals, drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of sleep at night, daily exercise and good personal hygiene are all important to asthma control.
These steps will help keep your child healthy and ready to take in all the new experiences of the school year.
Photo: Deann Trott, asthma nurse with the Department of Health, shows a child how to use a spacer and inhaler