Back to School with Asthma and Allergies

time-is-nowYes the calendar still says July, but its not too early to start thinking about your back to school strategies for dealing with asthma and allergies.   You and your doctor know what needs to be done to keep your child’s asthma and allergies under control, but do the people at school?

Your School Asthma and Allergy Team

The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends that you enlist the help of the following school personnel:

Teacher – Your child’s teacher should know your child’s triggers. So, make sure you tell them.  Also, make sure that your child takes their medication BEFORE they leave for school. Don’t miss a dose.  Also, don’t let allergy control measures at home be lost in the back to school craziness that happens the first few weeks of every school year.

Room Parent – If your elementary age child has food allergies, be sure to let the room parent know.  This is especially important if the school allows treats to be brought in from outside.

School Nurse – Take time to discuss emergency procedures with the school’s nurse.  Even if your child is returning to the same school, it doesn’t hurt to provide a quick refresher.  Ever since 2010, all 50 states recognize a student’s right to carry and use emergency asthma and allergy medications such as rescue inhalers and Epi-pens.  If your child has been prescribed emergency treatment medication make sure your child and school staff know how to properly use it.

PE Teacher/Sports Coach – Asthma and allergies doesn’t mean your child must sit on the sidelines. If your child’s doctor has given the go-ahead for participation in sports, then make sure that the PE Teacher or Coach knows what to do in case of an asthma-related event.  Exercise-induced asthma events may signal that the asthma is not under control.

Boost the Immune System Before Back to School

It never hurts to start boosting the immune system before the back to school assault begins.  Be skeptical of remedies and treatments off the shelf that promise to increase immunity.  The tried and true methods are just common sense:

  • Make sure adequate hydration is maintained – that means drink water
  • Get plenty of rest – that means no more all night video game sessions
  • Eat right – that means more frozen juice bars and fewer ice cream cones
  • Play outside – just make sure to use sunscreen, then get some Vitamin D naturally
  • Wash your hands – that doesn’t mean drown in hand sanitizer, it means use soap and water after playing outside and again before eating

Continue to avoid allergy and asthma triggers as much as possible in the lead up to school.

Back to School Physical

Don’t delay in scheduling your child’s back to school physical.  This is a great time to discuss any changes in medication or treatment that may be necessary as your child grows.

Have Fun

Make the most of the remaining days of summer.  Don’t let asthma How to Send you child with allergies to campand allergies hold your child back from swimming, playing, and enjoying childhood.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl

Read – How To Prepare For An Asthma Attack

Is Summer B in Your Schedule?

If you have now or ever had a college student in your family, you know all about the Summer B term. Summer B is the term just before the fall term. Some freshmen get a jump start by beginning in Summer B. It allows them to take a few classes and adjust to life on campus before the craziness of the full Fall semester begins.

Some Honors College students are required to take Summer B and many athletic programs require their students to be on campus for Summer B.  No matter what the reason if you have a Summer B student, you have to start thinking back to school 6 weeks before the rest of the country.

So, for you Summer B crowd, let’s review the off-to-college basics.

Expect your student to get more colds. They will be living in close proximity to other people and other people’s germs.  They are immune to the ones at home…this is a whole environment.  Also, most college students don’t eat a proper diet and don’t get the recommended amount of rest.

All of this takes a toll on the immune system. Anytime the immune system is compromised, allergies and asthma can flare up also.  So, make sure they have tissues and know what to do when they get a cold. Some college health clinics even sell a “my first cold kit” that has everything from a cup of chicken soup to tissues and cough drops!

You invested time and effort in making sure your teen’s room is free from dust mites and bed bugs. While you can’t export the entire room off to college, you can make sure they are protected.  Find out in advance what size mattress the room will have.  For years the standard dorm bed was a long twin, but as dorms are remodeled, many are switching to full size.

You don’t have to wonder if the mattress will be extra deep or a pillow-top…it won’t be!  If you want to add some extra padding or cushion, get them an egg crate or foam topper.  Be sure to put this under the zippered mattress encasing.

And speaking of zippered mattress covers, you want one that will be bed bug-proof and allergy-proof.  We recommend the Bed Bug Cover for complete protection which is also inexpensive.  Don’t forget to send along a zippered allergy-proof pillow cover or two.  Remind them to wash the sheets weekly, but don’t be surprised when they aren’t.  It is just the way it is.

If you are thinking about an air cleaner, the Austin Air HealthMate Junior is the perfect size for a dorm room. It is well built and sturdy, and even if your student graduates on the 5-year plan, they won’t need a filter change for the entire 5 years!

As the parent of a Summer B student, you get a jump on the crowd preparing for back to school.  When they are going crazy in August, you can sit back and chuckle knowing that you have been there and done that!

Til Next Time!
Cheryl
The Allergy Store