More than six million children in the U.S. live with asthma, and in the upcoming school year, they will need more than just supplies. In the U.S., asthma is one of the leading illnesses causing nearly 14 million missed school days each year. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), improved asthma management helps children feel safer, healthier, and prepared to learn. The ALA suggests the following back-to-school checklist.

Schedule a check-up.

Your child’s annual check-up is the ideal time to review their asthma medications and dosages. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get prescriptions for backup medications for your school nurse and coaches, and to make sure your child knows how to use these asthma medications.

Is your child ready to carry medications?

In New York and most other states, children are allowed to use their asthma inhalers at school. However, the ALA’s Self-Carry Assessment Tool can help you determine if your child is prepared to carry and self-administer asthma medication. If not, the tool will also help you get your child ready to do so.

Make sure your school nurse is informed.

Don’t forget to discuss your plan and backup medications with your child’s school nurse. Remember to sign all medication forms and address the topic of your child self-carrying a quick-relief inhaler, along with any special instructions regarding physical activities and asthma emergencies.

Talk to your child’s teacher.

Your child’s teacher should know about any triggers that might cause an asthma attack and how to handle an emergency. Air quality is also an important topic to discuss, as mold, fragrances, and idling buses can all be asthma triggers.

Don’t forget the PE teacher and coaches.

It helps to reassure teachers and coaches by discussing exercise-induced asthma and ways to manage symptoms and emergencies.

This list is very important. It provides a great summary of what you need to do to have a happy, healthy, and fun school year. The annual asthma check-up is crucial, and recheck visits may be necessary throughout the year, especially with seasonal changes. Remember, if you experience respiratory illnesses, it could indicate that your asthma is not well controlled.

For a full toolkit and free resources from the American Lung Association, visit www.Lung.org/asthma-in-schools.