How well is your school managing its response to students dealing with asthma and other reactions?
According to the CDC, roughly 8.6 percent of children suffer from asthma. This number has been climbing steadily since the 1980s. This creates a very serious situation for schools around the country that are looking to ensure the safety of their facility for all of their students.
With asthma being one of the leading causes of school absence due to illness, it’s critical that school administrators do all they can to better manage this serious disease. A total action plan should be implemented, maintained, and managed.
Monitor an action plan for each student
Although it may be challenging to keep track of the unique needs of each and every student, having a plan in place for each person who suffers from asthma can be vital when a reaction occurs. Ensure that this plan includes detailed information about administering medications, reducing triggers, monitoring peak flow, and responding properly to an attack.
Effectively communicate with parents or guardians
Always communicate acute episodes and any changes in a student’s health status with parents and guardians. This helps to ensure that all episodes are properly tracked and documented.
Educate staff members
With such a large population of students suffering from asthma, it is critical that all staff members are properly trained about the seriousness of asthma and its impact on safety, health, and performance. Teach staff members to look out for symptoms that could trigger asthma attacks and alert the necessary individuals within the school (as well as parents or guardians).
Keep environment clear of asthma-provoking substances
There are a number of substances that can invoke adverse reactions for those suffering from asthma. These can include dust, allergens, and other substances such as smoke. To better minimize these substances, schools should follow a rigorous maintenance regimen that should include:
• Inspect the building regularly for any signs of excess moisture, mold, leaks, or spills
• Follow a regular cleaning schedule to reduce allergen and irritant levels
• Schedule large building repairs, extensive cleaning, pesticide applications and other disruptive activities when the building is unoccupied to avoid exposing students to dust, irritants, and fumes
• Install entrance mats to drastically reduce the amount of dust and dirt that is tracked in from the outside on people’s feet. This not only damages flooring but also affects those dealing with asthma
Did you know, 90 percent of dirt in a building comes in on footwear? Properly designed floor mats work like a filtration system by first removing both small and large particles. In fact, floor mats remove over 86 percent of the dirt and moisture off footwear. This helps maintain a healthier and cleaner environment.
Interested in learning more steps schools can take to help students manage asthma?
At Image Matters, we are dedicated to providing products that are aesthetically pleasing and offer significant benefits to schools and organizations. Our entrance mats can promote your school logo and also significantly reduce the amount of dirt and dust that is tracked into your building. This reduces the number of allergic reactions facing your students with asthma and other allergies.
For more information about our line of custom designed mats and how they can help manage asthma in your environment, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today at 800-341-6287 or our online contact form.
