Policy on supporting students with Asthma Context and scope of guidelines Stantonbury recognises that asthma is a widespread, serious but controllable condition. The school welcomes all pupils with asthma in the context of our Equality Policy. This policy has been prepared by Marion Randall, Health and Well-being Co-ordinator and Child Protection Officer, and implements the national guidelines in the Department of Health Guidance on the use of emergency Salbutamol inhalers in schools March 2015. Our aims: We aim to ensure that pupils with asthma can and do participate fully in all aspects of school life, including art lessons, PE, science, visits, outings or field trips and other out-of-hours school activities. We recognise that pupils with asthma need immediate access to reliever inhalers at all times. 1. Asthma medicines 1.1 Immediate access to reliever medicines is essential. Pupils with asthma are encouraged to carry their reliever inhaler as soon as the parent/carer, doctor or asthma nurse agrees they are mature enough. 1.2 All inhalers must be labelled with the child s name by the parent/carer. 1.3 School staff are not required to administer asthma medicines to pupils (except in an emergency), however many of the staff at this school are happy to do this. School staff who agree to administer medicines are covered by public liability insurance when acting in agreement with this policy. 1.4 School staff will be advised to allow students to take their own medicines when they need to. 2. Signs and symptoms of an asthma attack Persistent cough (when at rest) A wheezing sound coming from the chest (when at rest) Being unusually quiet The child complains of shortness of breath at rest, feeling tight in the chest (younger children may express this feeling as a tummy ache) Difficulty in breathing (fast and deep respiration) Nasal flaring Being unable to complete sentences Appearing exhausted A blue / white tinge around the lips Going blue
3. Responding to signs of an asthma attack An ambulance MUST BE CALLED IMMEDIATELY and the asthma attack procedure followed if the child: Appears exhausted Has a blue/white tinge around lips Is going blue Has collapsed 4 How to deal with an asthma attack: Staff will apply the following advice: Keep calm and reassure the child NEVER leave the child by themselves. Encourage the child to sit up and slightly forward. Use the child s own inhaler if not available or there is a problem ie: broken, empty, out of date, not in school, use the emergency inhaler which is located in the school office Remain with child while the inhaler and spacer are brought to them Immediately help the child to take two puffs of the salbutamol via the spacer immediately. If there is no immediate improvement, continue to give two puffs every two minutes up to a maximum of 10 puffs, or until their symptoms improve. The inhaler should be shaken between puffs. Stay calm and reassure the child. Stay with the child until they feel better. The child can return to school activities when they feel better If the child does not feel better or you are worried at ANYTIME before you have reached 10 puffs, CALL 999 FOR AN AMBULANCE If an ambulance does not arrive in 10 minutes give another 10 puffs in the same way. The- How to recognise an asthma attack and What to do in the event of an asthma attack guidance will be available in hard copy in Student Services and from Marion Randall s office and will be shared electronically with the first aid team. 5. Use of emergency salbutamol inhalers in school 5.1 From 1st October 2014, the Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 has allowed schools to keep a salbutamol inhaler for use in emergencies. A Salbutamol inhaler and spacer will be kept in Student Services for emergency use only. 5.2 The Emergency inhaler will be available for students with asthma for whom we have written parental consent for its use and will only be used if the pupil s prescribed inhaler is not available (for example, because it is broken, or empty 5.3 At the first aider s discretion, however, it may be used with students for whom we do not have parental consent if it is not possible to contact the parent or if the student s condition is deteriorating rapidly.
5.4 In the event that the school emergency inhaler is used, parents will be contacted immediately and asked to bring medication to school the next day. 5.5 Arrangements will be made for the safe supply, storage, care, and disposal of the inhaler and spacers. 6. Record keeping 6.1 The Campus will keep a record of all pupils with asthma. 6.2 A student list will be held in Student Services and in Marion Randall s office and the PE office of students in the school that have been diagnosed with asthma or prescribed a reliever inhaler. A copy will also be kept with the emergency inhaler. 6.2 The school admissions forms will request information about known medical conditions. 6.3 At the beginning of each school year or when a child joins the school, parents/carers will be complete asked to inform the school of their child s medical conditions and any changes to them. 6.4 Parents will be asked to complete the school s relevant medical details forms and to give consent to administer an emergency inhaler. 6.5 Parents will be invited to contribute to the development of an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) 7. Exercise and activity PE and games 7.1 Taking part in sports, games and activities is an essential part of school life for all students. 7.2 All teachers, including PE teachers, are made aware of the students in their class with asthma. 7.3 Pupils with asthma are encouraged to participate fully in all PE lessons. 7.4 PE teachers will remind pupils whose asthma is triggered by exercise, to take their reliever inhaler before the lesson, and to thoroughly warm up and down before and after the lesson. It is agreed with PE staff that each pupil s inhaler will be labelled and kept in a box at the site of the lesson so that if a student needs to use their inhaler during a lesson they will be encouraged to do so. 7.5 Classroom teachers follow the same principles as described above for games and activities involving physical activity. 7.6 There has been a large emphasis in recent years on increasing the number of children and young people involved in exercise and sport in and outside of school. The health benefits of exercise are well documented and this is also true for children and young people with asthma. It is therefore important that the school involve pupils with asthma as much as possible in after school clubs. 7.7 Classroom teachers and out-of hours school sport coaches will be made aware of the potential triggers for pupils with asthma when exercising, tips to minimise these triggers and what to do in the event of an asthma attack.
8. School environment 8.1 The school will do all that it can to ensure the school environment is favourable to pupils with asthma. 8.2 The school has a definitive no-smoking and no-vaping policy. 8.3 As far as possible the school does not use chemicals in science and art lessons that are potential triggers for pupils with asthma. Pupils with asthma are encouraged to leave the room and inform the teacher if particular fumes trigger their asthma. 9. When a pupil is falling behind in lessons 9.1 If a student is missing a lot of time at school or is always tired because their asthma is disturbing their sleep at night, the student support leader or year leader will work with the family to agree support strategies 9.2 Advice may be sought from the school nurse service or the school s SEND co-ordinator. 9.3 The school recognises that it is possible for pupils with asthma to have special education needs due to their asthma. 10. Staff training 10.1 The school will provide appropriate support and training for staff in the use of the emergency inhaler in line with the schools wider policy on supporting pupils with medical conditions. 10.2 We aim to have at least two volunteers responsible for ensuring the protocol is followed, and their effectiveness monitored. 11. The emergency kit Our emergency asthma inhaler kit includes: A salbutamol metered dose inhaler; A single-use plastic spacers compatible with the inhaler; Instructions on using the inhaler and spacer/plastic chamber; Instructions on cleaning and storing the inhaler; Manufacturer s information; A checklist of inhalers, identified by their batch number and expiry date, with monthly checks recorded; A note of the arrangements for replacing the inhaler and spacers A list of children permitted to use the emergency inhaler as per parental consent form. A record of administration (i.e. when the inhaler has been used). The emergency inhaler will be clearly labelled to avoid confusion with a child s inhaler. Storage and care of the inhaler will be included.
nnex 1. Letter to parents confirming that their son/daughter has Asthma. Annex 2. Form asking for consent to give Emergency Salbutamol inhaler Annex 3 letter to parents confirming Emergency Salbutamol inhaler has been given. Policy prepared by: Approved by: Marion Randall, Health and well-being officer/ child protection officer Vanessa Ray: Executive Headteacher Signed: Vanessa Ray.. Date of approval: 11 To be reviewed: October 2018
ANNEX 1 [Date] [Name] [Address] Dear <<parent salutation>> Supporting students with Asthma It has been brought to our attention that <<first name>> has Asthma and I am writing to outline the ways in which the school can support. Our aim is to provide support that is individualised and consultative so that we can: have a good understanding of how medical conditions impact on a student s ability to learn increase the student s confidence about managing their medical condition in school promote self-care In order to achieve these aims, we would ask that you complete, sign and date the enclosed forms, particularly the consent form, which gives parental permission for us to administer an emergency inhaler should this be needed. I should also like to offer you the opportunity to meet with me to discuss your child s medical needs more fully, and any questions you may have so that we can set up an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP), that will ensure we are able to meet <<first name s>> needs. Please note that if <<first name>> needs to take medication in school, you will need you to come to school in person to complete the relevant consent form. To make an appointment please call 01908 324575 or send me an e-mail to marion.randall@stantonbury.org.uk. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Marion Randall Child Protection and Health and Well-being Officer
ANNEX 2 LETTER TO INFORM PARENTS OR CARER OF EMERGENCY SALBUTAMOL INHALER USE Stantonbury Campus This form is asking for your consent for your son/daughter to receive Salbutamol from an emergency inhaler held by the school for such emergency. You will be contacted to formally notify you that your son/daughter has had problems and what actions have been taken. Student s Name:. Tutor Group: Date: Please tick appropriate box: I can confirm that my child has been diagnosed with asthma/has been prescribed an inhaler My child has a working in date inhaler, clearly labelled with their name, which they will bring with them into school every day In the event of my child displaying symptoms of asthma and if their inhaler is not available or unusable, I consent for my child to receive salbutamol from an emergency inhaler held by the school for such emergency. Parents address and contact details: Telephone: Email: Yours Sincerely Marion Randall Child Protection Officer and Health and Well-Being Co-ordinator Stantonbury Campus Milton Keynes Tel 01908 324574
ANNEX 3 LETTER TO INFORM PARENTS OR CARER OF EMERGENCY SALBUTAMOL INHALER USE Stantonbury Campus Student s Name:. Tutor Group: Date: Dear This letter is to formally notify you that has had problems With his/her breathing today. This happened when.. Please tick appropriate box: A member of staff helped them to use their asthma inhaler. They did not have their own asthma inhaler with them, so a member of staff helped them to use the Emergency Asthma inhaler containing Salbutamol. They were given.. puffs. Their own asthma inhaler was not working, so a member of staff helped them to use the emergency asthma inhaler containing Salbutamol. They were given.. puffs. Although they soon felt better, we would strongly advise that you have your child seen by your own GP as soon as possible. Yours Sincerely Marion Randall Child Protection Officer and Health and Well-Being Co-ordinator Stantonbury Campus Milton Keynes Tel 01908 324574