compulsory trip

Hey guys, I hope you all are well

Okay, well I have just been informed by the biology department at my sixth form that in order to pass A2 biology I have to go on a week long trip in October. This would include practical biology outside.

For the past God knows how many years I have spent the month of October with a horrible cold and asthma flares. I am able to usually cope with these on my own with the help of my GP thus avoiding the hospitals but I have been cutting it close a few times.

To be honest the thought of going on this trip terrifies me.

I don't exactly trust my teachers when it come to my asthma as I don't really think they fully understand how bad it can get. Or what they should do and when.

I guess what I would like to know is if anyone has any advice with how I can cope with this week away...

Many thanks,

Hope you're all doing well

Frankie

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Hi Faren,

Speaking from experience I think it is good that ou are being proactive. When I did A level biology (10 years ago) I went on my pratical at this time of year. Carrying out investigations on plants in the middle of the hayfever season was awful and I ended up having an attack two out of four nights. I have to say that my teachers/friends were excellent and despite this I managed to stay for the rest of the week. Obviously if your asthma is really bad just before you go (mine wasn't really) you would need to reconsider but I would share my concerns with the teacher. As I am now a teacher, I look back and think that they must have been pretty worried too. Do you/did you have a care plan for sixth form/school? This is basically a document that tells the staff what to do with what symptoms? It might help having this discussion with the staff, sharing your asthma plan (if you have one) and agreeing what should be done in the event of an attack. Let people know of you need to slow down/stop etc too. If you have a good relationship with your GP perhaps they could help with this. You also sound like you have a good knowledge of your asthma so that will help too. I think talking through your symptoms and what helped last time will help to reassure you and also make sure the staff know what to look out for, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. I think your teachers will also welcome this and are probably concerned too (I know when I take children with medical needs away, I am always thinking what if...)

Sorry to have waffled on. Obviously I don't know the severity of your asthma etc but I think that if you can put plans in place, then your teachers will be in the best place to know what to do. Unfortunately sometimes the training teachers get is a bit one size fits all and I sometimes end up explaining things at my annual training!

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Hey, thanks for the response

I think at some point I will have to sit down with my teachers and explain everything - I have already had this conversation with a few of my friends that are also going on this trip so that's somewhat comforting. I'm not entirely sure what information the school has regarding my asthma so I may just give it to them again ( it'll give them something to read I suppose lol)

My teacher did say to me today that if I do need to come home it will be arranged

I suppose I'm just worrying because I usually have my GP to support me when it gets bad and last year he seemed a bit lost at what to do...