While preparing for the annual ritual of scouring store shelves for school supplies and the latest fall fashions, students with asthma – and their parents—face an even bigger concern that must be addressed before the school year starts: their health in the classroom.
According to the American Lung Association, asthma is the most common chronic childhood disorder in the nation, affecting an estimated seven million children younger than 18. It is also one of the main illness-related reasons students miss school, accounting for more than 14 million missed school days.
It is important for these students and their families to prepare and carefully monitor a detailed action plan that helps manage their asthma and ease the transition to a rigorous academic schedule.
To help with this, the American Lung Association has developed a back-to-school checklist for parents who have children with asthma. To view the seven-step checklist and other asthma resources, visit www.lungusa.org and search for the keyword phrase “Back to School.”

Jeffrey Seyler
President & CEO
American Lung Association in New England
Providence