Classroom Teachers

Keep kids with asthma
engaged in the fun of learning

Your school nurse can help!

Asthma symptoms and triggers

What you need to know about asthma

Asthma emergencies

Field trips

Support students with asthma

Communicating with the school nurse to prepare, prevent and respond

Talk with the school nurse often

  • Ask questions about asthma and each child’s triggers and treatments
  • Your school nurse can help you understand how your school policies support students with asthma

Be aware of each student’s triggers

  • Minimizing classroom asthma triggers will help minimize symptoms

Pre-treating before activities

  • Some kids will need to visit the health office to use their inhaler before being active.
  • Other students may self-carry their medication with the school nurse’s involvement.

What you need to know about asthma symptoms

Kids don’t outgrow asthma.
It is a chronic condition.

Play 2 min video

Look out for asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and lethargy.

Learn what different symptoms of asthma looks like in this short video. 

Play 2 min video

Asthma usually develops during childhood.

Airways in the lungs become inflamed and constrict, making breathing difficult.

No two children with asthma experience it exactly the same way.

TIP

It is important to let your school nurse know if you notice a child has symptoms. School nurses can work with families and doctors to control those symptoms.

Know each child’s asthma triggers

Each child is different so their asthma triggers will also be different!

Minimizing classroom asthma triggers will help minimize symptoms.

Common triggers include:

  • Viruses, colds, sickness
  • Smoke from cigarettes, wildfires, vaping
  • Mold, dust, pollen, animals
  • Cold air
  • Physical activity like playground play, dancing, or games
  • Strong smells
  • Emotions, like laughing and crying
Asthma Trigger Info for Teachers

Asthma Emergencies

If you see RED ZONE symptoms, Call 911 and act quickly

Follow the child’s Asthma Care Plan, which will likely look similar to this:

Zones

If you see this:

Do this:

GREEN ZONE:

No Symptoms – Pretreat

  • No current symptoms
  • Strenuous activity planned

Pretreatment for strenuous activity if indicated on care plan.

If child is currently experiencing symptoms, follow YELLOW or RED ZONE.

YELLOW ZONE:

Mild symptoms

  • Trouble breathing
  • Wheezing
  • Frequent cough
  • Chest tightness
  • Not able to do activities

Give QUICK RELIEF MEDICINE as prescribed:

  • Child/youth may go back to normal activities, once symptoms are relieved.

If symptoms do not improve or worsen, follow RED ZONE.

  • Notify parents/guardians and school nurse.

RED ZONE:

EMERGENCY –
Severe Symptoms

  • Coughs constantly
  • Struggles to breathe
  • Trouble talking (only speaks 3–5 words)
  • Skin of chest and/or neck pull in with breathing
  • Lips/fingernails gray/blue

Give QUICK RELIEF MEDICINE as prescribed: 


  • Refer to the anaphylaxis care plan if the student has a life – threatening allergy. If there is no anaphylaxis care plan follow emergency guidelines for anaphylaxis.

Call 911 and inform EMS the reason for the call.

REPEAT QUICK RELIEF MED if not improving:

  • Can repeat every 5–15 minutes until EMS arrives.
  • Stay with child/youth. Remain calm, encouraging slower, deeper breaths.
  • Notify parents/guardians and school nurse.
Learn More about Asthma Zones

Field Trips

For a school day trip, notify a school nurse at least two weeks before the trip.

Your school nurse will need to make preparations and ensure school policies are followed:

  • Train school staff attending the field trip
  • Gather and distribute forms and medications

For an overnight trip, nurses should be notified at least a month in advance so they can coordinate medications that are given at home.