School is almost out for summer! But don’t go planning your family’s summer vacations just yet. If your child suffers from asthma or allergies, there’s a list of things you need to do before the end of the school year is offically over.
Prepare for End-Of-School Celebrations
The end of the school year can typically mean extra outdoor activities and field trips for your little ones to enjoy. If your child suffers from asthma, you should make sure to communicate to his or her teacher ahead of time what to do in the event that your kid suffers an asthma attack while traveling.
The teacher should look to the Asthma Action Plan, a basic, easy-to-read booklet of information related to taking care of your kid in the event of asthma attacks. Furthermore, make sure that your child’s inhaler is with a staff member at all times, even if they venture off of school grounds. It's a good idea to purchase multiple inhalers so that you can have one at the school's nurse's office, one with his or her teacher, and anywhere else that it might come in handy.
Read More: Allergies in Children: How Can Parents Help?
Does Your Kid Have a Food Allergy?
Food allergies are typically more severe than their allergic rhinitis counterparts. If you are a parent of a child who has food allergies, you should ensure that the lunch menu for the field trip has safe food that has been prepared and stored away from all the foods that he or she is allergic to.
Just in case your child suffers from a case of anaphylaxis, you should make sure that teachers, the school nurse, and other staff members have access to multiple auto-injecting pens of epinephrine, a drug used to reverse the airway-tightening effects of anaphylaxis.
Read More: What is Cross-Contact and How Can You Avoid it?
Don’t Forget Your Kids Medicine at School
Unless your child is returning to the same school building that he or she is currently attending now, you should make sure to take all medications home that you've shared with the school to store.
Keep in mind that using expired medicine is generally safe, at least as far as tablets of non-antibiotic drugs are concerned.
Read More: What are the Alternatives to EpiPen?
Schedule an Appointment With a Pediatric Allergist
Now that school is about to be over, it’s time to get prepared for summer activities and the upcoming school year. If your child plans on going to day camp or sleepaway camp, they will need up-to-date medical authorization forms and emergency action plans. Plus, you will want to meet with the camp staff to thoroughly discuss your child’s allergies to help them better prepare themselves. And don’t forget, you can be a helpful resource for the school staff, so don’t be afraid to stay in contact with them! They will appreciate your insight.
If your child is suffering from any kind of allergy symptoms, contact the Atlanta pediatric allergists at the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia right away. We can help children with the following:
- Asthma
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Hives
- Eye allergies
- Eczema
- Chronic sinus infections
Have any more questions? Visit our website to schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified allergists. We can help your child identify their allergic triggers, while also providing a customized school treatment plan.
For more helpful information, check out our Patient Education Guide.