State Laws Allow You to Carry Asthma, Anaphylaxis Medications at ...
Newswise — State laws are changing to allow students with asthma and anaphylaxis to carry and self-administer lifesaving medications at school. Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) has launched a national campaign to educate students, parents, healthcare providers and school staff about these new laws and help students self-manage their diseases.
“For many students with asthma or anaphylaxis, the decision to run laps in gym class, join the marching band or eat lunch with classmates requires making life and death risk assessments on their own every day,” says Nancy Sander, AANMA president and founder. “As parents, teachers or medical professionals, it’s our job to help them do this with confidence and knowledge.”
There is no specific age or grade level at which all students with these conditions have the skills needed to carry and use medications responsibly. Incorporating self-care in the school setting requires cooperation among students, parents, teachers and other school personnel.
“Communication is key,” says Kevin Murphy, MD, an AANMA board member who led efforts to ensure every school in Nebraska had emergency asthma and anaphylaxis training for educators and allowed students to carry their prescribed medications. “Now that most states allow students to carry and use asthma and anaphylaxis medications at school, medical care providers need to spend more time talking to students to make sure they are ready to make self-care decisions at school.”
AANMA offers parents, students and educators free education and assessment materials at http://www.BreatheAtSchool.org :
· Teen MA Report – asthma and anaphylaxis management tips from teens and questions to ask when assessing student readiness for self-care
· Allergies and Asthma at School Kit – tools to help students and parents to talk to school personnel about managing asthma and anaphylaxis at school
· “Breathe: It’s the Law” public awareness poster contest – resources to spread the word about student rights
· Interactive map of state laws – state-by-state data on anaphylaxis and asthma laws and requirements
· Ask Nurse Christy – link to AANMA’s certified asthma educator, who answers patient questions and concerns
· Indoor AIRepair® at School newsletter – tips to identify and eliminate indoor air quality problems at school
Asthma is the number one reason for missed school days due to chronic illness. AANMA encourages students, parents and educators to work with school health officials to ensure students are ready for self-care and schools are prepared to handle asthma and allergy emergencies. Part of that preparation is keeping backup medications in the school nurse’s office and having trained medical professionals at school to respond to emergencies. School nurses are essential members of a student’s medical care team. How unfortunate that almost half the schools in America fall short of the federally recommended nurse-to-student ratio.
AANMA is committed to ensuring all states have laws allowing students to carry and self-administer asthma inhalers and auto-injectable epinephrine, which enables students to follow their doctor’s prescribed treatment plan, treat their conditions at the first sign of symptoms, and gain confidence and control over their chronic conditions.
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating suffering and death due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. Founded in 1985, AANMA’s core areas of expertise are education, advocacy and community outreach. AANMA’s flagship publications – "Allergy & Asthma Today" magazine and "The MA Report" newsletter – and Breatherville.org Web site are consumer lifelines to medical news and healthy living. Contact AANMA at 800.878.4403 or visit http://www.breatherville.org .
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