The Big Idea: Childcare providers are often children's first helpers during an asthma attack.
Managing Asthma in a Childcare Setting
Managing a child’s asthma is all about working as a team, and childcare providers are hugely important team members! Here’s how you can help:
- Stay in the know. Keep a written list of a child’s triggers, medications, and other key information on hand. Parents can fill out this information in the Asthma Profile page on this site.
- Help children avoid their asthma triggers. Ask parents what triggers a child’s asthma and make note to help children avoid those things. Common triggers include pollen, mold, dust, cold air, physical activity, secondhand cigarette smoke, and furry or feathered animals.
- Teach children what to do during an asthma attack: Sit down, stay calm, get help.
- Be ready to help during an asthma attack.
- If you are allowed to give medication, check the child’s Asthma Profile or a parent’s instructions to see what’s needed, and offer it.
- Notify the child’s parent or guardian.
- If necessary, call 911 for an ambulance.
- Look for loud and quiet asthma symptoms:
- Loud symptoms include:
- coughing;
- shakiness;
- shortness of breath;
- tightness in the chest;
- wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing).
- Quiet symptoms include:
- anxiety and nervousness;
- restlessness during sleep;
- sudden irritability or quietness;
- unusual tiredness; and
- unusual sweating or paleness.
- Check in about asthma attacks at home to stay updated on how the child is doing.
