Schools and Asthma get on my last nerve

I recently heard about the boy who died shortly after having an asthma attack at school. No one decided to call an ambulance and he was made to sit in a corridor while struggling to breathe.

Schools need to learn more about asthma and be more informed how to deal with an attack.

It really annoys me that the school didn't do anything to try and help him breathe, come on most schools should have at least one person who knows how to deal with it and when to call 999.

Hearing about this today made me worried about my asthma at school I don't think anyone wants to have an attack and receive no help what so ever.

I would like to know your views on this.

Frankie

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Hi Frankie,

That news was just unbelievable!! As a teacher in a school, all our staff take an asthma attack very seriously and our trained first aiders are brilliant at dealing with someone having difficulty breathing.

I can't believe that something like this could have happened and it's going to result in a lot more publicity in how to assist asthma in pupils. I don't think you need to worry that you won't be properly cared for. Keep your inhaler handy and work very hard to stay calm and 'in charge' of your breathing when you have an attack; don't be afraid to ask for help at school if you need.

All the best

Sheri

x

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Made me angry also.

I work in a school and everyone is first aid trained and we also update them.

Our school are realy good and every child gets seen to with their own medical doses as needed and medical room that keeps all inhalers in aswell as my spair one .

Carnt understand how they got it so wrong and not attended to his needs or his action plan or ring 999.

I Work as a lunchtime supervisor and first aider and as children run about we see to quite a few with asthma.

The staff in question at the school who did not see to the boy will now have to face what comes their way.

glynis xxx

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Its so scary hearing something like this happening. My heart goes out to the family who suffered this tragic loss of thier son in this way.

It is not good enough, a few weeks ago my son suffered had an asthma attack at school and they put him in the sick room and left him unsupervised, in the end he phoned me on his mobile, to come and get him, he was relly scared, luckily for us he was fine in the end, but it could of been a totaly different story.

I was livid with the school, they said they were checking on him every ten mins, he told me he had been alone for one and a half hours.

I told them he is never to be left alone while having an attack, it is unacceptable for them to leave anyone alone while having an asthma attack (common sense) uh

We are in the process of doing a asthma care plan with the school, so hopefully that will help.

x

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Hi Francesca,

There are lots of reports about this in the media today e.g. this one on the BBC website, news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england... . Perhaps you could show it to your school matron and head teacher and explain how concerned your are. If you don't already have an management plan for your school, this is an opportunity for you and your school to draw one up or to discuss any existing plan. Hopefully this will help you feel more confident and less worried and you will have helped to raise awareness of the potential seriousness of asthma, helping to protect yourself and other children at your school.

best wishes

Claire

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schools and asthma

Hi Frankie,

I understand your concern about being at school and having an asthma attack but what happened to Samuel Linton is a really rare occurrence.

I used to be a teacher and I have asthma - as did a number of my colleagues - so we all know how it can feel when you have an attack.

This story is a terribly sad one as Samuel's death could so easily have been prevented - but if it leads to more staff training and awareness of asthma then that is just one tiny chink of good to have come out of something so bleak and horrible.

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HI Frankie, I also used to work in a school as a lunch-time supervisor and as an asthmatic myself I always seemed to be the first to pin-point when a child i nmy care was having issues with their asthma and started the treatment. I am also first aid trained and I always make sure that the first-aid course has a section on asthma before I sign up for it. I want to be able to say to anyone don't panic I have been trained to deal with asthma and I also have loads of person experience in dealing with asthma. This mean's so much to me and I also like to be able to do a first-aid course that has section about epilepsy too.

This issue has opened my son's school's eyes on asthma and the fact that they don't have anyone specificly trained to deal with asthma nd they are know in the process of getting at least 1 member of staff per class trained. Last year one of the teachers who sadly has left know used to be a nurse so she was the nominated asthma person in the school and she was always at hand to help and assist the children when they had an asthma attack but know they have no-one as they won't allow my husband to take that position as he is only a voluntary at the school and is only classed as a trainee TA.

Like other people have said I would raise your concern with your school and sit down with the head-teacher, your class teacher and the senco for your school and set up an asthma action care plan with them. This way you are not only just dealing with your asthma but you are also dealing with the issue and raising awareness in your school about asthma and hopefully this will encourage them sort out getting staff trained properly in asthma and even educate the whole school on asthma

[yaf_user681_23350]

My Son would have died at school too, it was only because I had had enough that Friday that I took myself into the school cupboard and found his lost nebuliser under 30 books and his inhaler under the dustpan and brush full of dust with all other inhalers!!! I was just so angry. Matty had such a severe attack that same morning.Lots of blue didnt work, he pulled his own neb out of cupboard on his hands and knees fighting to breath. I found out at 5.30pm after he had walked 1 mile to the after school club. The After school club were furious as they hadn't been told either!The new Headmistress was furious too when she heard what happened. We are so lucky he is still with us. I sent lots of info in for the teacher and they are now very aware. Matty collapses at least once a week but his class mates know about his condition and they really care about him, always getting help with one of them staying with him when out at play.

When he goes to senior school they have a school nurse which will really help my nerves!

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Its not just hospitals..... First Aide3rs in general... I was at the gym when I had an attack was good stopped exercising and sat in reception... the first aider came and sat with me but didnt seem to tag on the inhalor wasnt helping (I dont like saying I need an ambulance)

I have also been left sitting in reception of ED for 30 mins before triage even though booked in as Shortness of breath.... Been left sitting in majors with no one checking on me...