Children with asthma or allergies: all school without discrimination!
Project Home Individual (PAI) proposed the establishment of specific provisions for children with asthma or allergies can go to school like other children. Even if the new school took place one month ago, it is not too late to make this move.
1. Project Home individualized for children with asthma and allergy
Project Home Individual (PAI) is prepared at the request of the family, the director of the school in consultation with the school physician, based on recommendations made by the doctor who follows the child.
The goal is to make the school possible and in good conditions for the child, and for that to facilitate communication between family, doctors and teachers.
The IBP provides four major provisions:
- The child is allowed to take medication at school (oral, inhaled or injected).
- If necessary, he can receive appropriate emergency care.
- Special facilities are provided to improve living conditions at the school.
- In the canteen, he can receive appropriate meals or a packed lunch prepared by the family.
2. Drugs and emergency care at school
Regarding care in schools, it is advisable to ask the doctor who follows the child to take stock of his condition and his needs, then send an accurate report to the medical school. It is so well informed by a colleague and has written a solid foundation.
The family must prepare and maintain medical kit remains available to the teachers. It must contain the drugs really necessary with the order and be monitored regularly to verify that nothing is missing and renew the expired medicines. It should be simple to use, easy to transport the child to follow her wherever and placed in a location following the methods of storage of drugs (temperature, light, humidity …). Finally, it must include the PAI, emergency protocol and a telephone directory (hospital emergency department, physician, parents).
3. Organization and composition of meals
In case of special dietary requirements, there are several solutions:
- Parents consult the menu and provide a meal replacement when a dish is risky.
- Parents provide their own packed lunches.
- The community makes a specific adaptation: when preparing meals, food is forbidden replaced by another, a sauce is removed, etc..
- The community provides a menu: command from a provider or specialized agency that is free of allergens.
4. Tips to facilitate the implementation of the IAP
- Make personal contact with the school principal, the school doctor and communities.
- Meet the teachers and school staff (canteen, child care …) to inform them precisely specific care and responding to their questions and concerns.
- Asthma & Allergy Association, recommends to always promote dialogue, cooperation and avoid confrontation. And finally “understand that school is not a place of care, that staff are not health professionals and they have many other pressures to bear.”