Prepare Your Child for Peak Asthma Season

Worst time for those who suffer from asthma: late August through the end of September

If you have a child with asthma, now is the time to revisit their asthma action plan so you are prepared for the annual increase in asthma attacks that occurs each year as kids return to the classroom.

A dramatic rise in the number of asthma flare-ups occurs each year from late August through the end of September, according to a review of public health records by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

“The annual spike is caused, in part, by kids being exposed to more germs once they return to school,” says physician Lisa Y. Harris, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Excellus

BCBS. “It’s also the peak time of year for mold and pollen, which can trigger airway inflammation that can launch an asthma attack.”

Harris, who is boardcertified in internal medicine and pediatrics, advises parents to use the final weeks of summer to make sure that prescribed asthma control medications are being used as directed, and that a doctor’s note is on file with the child’s school so that a supply of those medications can be kept there in case of an emergency.

Parents should also use these last few weeks of summer to consult with their health care provider to develop or update their child’s asthma action plan. This is a writ-

Typically, the Committee on Preschool Special Education guides the education of special needs-identified children aged 3 to 5. No specific disability is stated on the school’s IEP. From ages 5 through 21, the IEP includes this information, and the Committee on Special Education serves their needs.

As part of the IEP, special education teachers provide free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. This means that the program is tailored to each child’s needs while still offering access to grade-appropriate curriculum.

The IEP will need adjusting periodically to meet the child’s changing needs. Procedural safeguards legally require that schools issue a prior written notice to articulate the nature of the changes and request their signature to approve the changes to the IEP. This also applies to denying or expanding special education services.

After the school receives a PWN signed by the parents, the special education department can start transitioning the child from the first IEP to the next, which could include more testing. This “roll-over” step is one way in which special education teachers can demonstrate their partnership with families.

“It is the primary mission of the special education department to work collaboratively with students, parents and educators to provide a free, appropriate, public education in the least restrictive environment for students with disabilities,” said Jeffrey Hammond, director of public relations and information for Buffalo public schools.

Any time parents do not understand their child’s IEP, they should reach out to their school’s special education personnel for clarity. They should keep in mind that educators specialize in instruction, but parents are the experts on their own children. Sharing what works and what doesn’t work at home may help special education instructors find ideal ways of helping kids learn better.

Special education teachers often use adaptive techniques and devices to help them instruct, depending upon the children’s needs.

The IEP could also include the delivery of therapy services at school, such as occupational, speech or physical therapy to help children learn better and offer a convenient way to receive such services.

The Legally Recognized Individualized Education Program Categories

• Autism

• Deafness

• Deaf-blindness

• Emotional disturbance

• Hearing impairment

• Intellectual disability

• Learning disability

• Multiple disabilities

• Orthopedic impairment

• Other health-impairment

• Speech or language impairment

• Traumatic brain injury

• Visual impairment, including blindness

To-do List Before the Start of School

• Check with your health care provider to make sure that prescribed asthma medications are up to date and working, and that permissions are in place for their use at school, if needed.

• Make sure your child takes all asthma medications as directed.

• Alert all adults at school and elsewhere who work with your child to recognize the signs of an asthma attack.

• Empower your child to notice and report asthma triggers and signs of a pending attack.

ten plan that details a child’s daily asthma treatment including which medicines to take and when, and the child’s specific attack triggers. The action plan also explains how to identify when the child’s asthma symptoms are severe enough to contact the provider, or to take the child to urgent care or a hospital emergency room.

“All adults and schools or other sites that care for a child with asthma should have a copy of the asthma action plan and understand their responsibilities regarding the child’s care,” says Harris.

• Prevent the spread of germs by encouraging proper handwashing, social distancing, and making sure that every family member is current on all recommended vaccinations, including the annual flu shot.

Visit www.health.ny.gov/ publications/4850.pdf for a free New York state asthma action plan template.

Submitted by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield