Help for non-English speakers
If you need help to understand the information in this policy please contact Beaufort Secondary College.
Purpose
To ensure that Beaufort Secondary College appropriately supports students diagnosed with asthma.
Objective
To explain to Beaufort Secondary College parents/carers, staff and students the processes and procedures in place to support students diagnosed with asthma.
Scope
This policy applies to:
Policy
Asthma
Asthma is a long-term lung condition. People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which react to triggers, causing a ‘flare-up’. In a flare-up, the muscles around the airway squeeze tight, the airways swell and become narrow and there is more mucus. This makes it hard to breathe. An asthma flare-up can come on slowly (over hours, days or even weeks) or very quickly (over minutes). A sudden or severe asthma flare-up is sometimes called an asthma attack.
Symptoms
Symptoms of asthma can vary over time and often vary from person to person. The most common asthma symptoms are:
Symptoms often occur at night, early in the morning or during/just after physical activity. If asthma is well controlled, a person should only have occasional asthma symptoms.
Triggers
A trigger is something that sets off or starts asthma symptoms. Everyone with asthma has different triggers. For most people with asthma, triggers are only a problem when asthma is not well controlled with medication. Common asthma triggers include:
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Asthma management
If a student diagnosed with asthma enrols at Beaufort Secondary College:
Any Student Health Support Plan will be developed in accordance with Beaufort Secondary College’s Healthcare Needs Policy.
Student asthma kit
All students diagnosed with asthma are required to have a student asthma kit at school which contains:
Students will be required to keep their asthma kits with them while at school.
Asthma emergency response plan
If a student is:
School staff will endeavour to follow the Asthma First Aid procedures outlined in the table below. School staff may contact Triple Zero “000” at any time.
Step |
Action |
1 |
Sit the person upright
|
2 |
Give 4 separate puffs of blue or blue/grey reliever puffer:
Remember – Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths |
3 |
Wait 4 minutes
(or give 1 more dose of Bricanyl or Symbiocort inhaler) |
4 |
If there is still no improvement call Triple Zero “000” and ask for an ambulance.
(or 1 dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort every 4 minutes – up to 3 doses of Symbicort) |
5 |
If asthma is relieved after administering Asthma First Aid, stop the treatment and observe the student. Notify the student’s emergency contact person and record the incident |
Staff will call Triple Zero “000” immediately if:
Training for staff
Beaufort Secondary College will arrange the following asthma management training for staff:
Staff |
Completed by |
Course |
Provider |
Cost |
Valid for |
Group 1 General Staff |
School staff with a direct teaching role with students affected by asthma or other school staff directed by the Principal after conducting a risk assessment.
|
Asthma first aid management for education staff (non-accredited) One hour online training. |
Asthma Australia |
Free to all schools |
3 years |
Group 2 Specific Staff
|
Staff working with high risk children with a history of severe asthma, or with direct student wellbeing responsibility, (including nurses, PE/sport teachers, first aid and school staff attending camp) |
Course in Asthma Awareness 10760NAT OR Course in the management of Asthma Risks and Emergencies in the Workplace 22556VIC (accredited) |
Any RTO that has this course in their scope of practice |
Paid by Beaufort Secondary College |
3 years |
Beaufort Secondary College will also provide this policy to casual relief staff and volunteers who will be working with students and may also provide a briefing if the Principal decides it is necessary depending on the nature of the work being performed.
Asthma Emergency Kit
Beaufort Secondary College will provide and maintain at least two Asthma Emergency Kits. One kit will be kept on school premises at the General Office and one will be a mobile kit for activities such as:
The Asthma Emergency Kit will contain:
The blue or blue/grey reliever medication in the Asthma Emergency Kits may be used by more than one student as long as they are used with a spacer. If the devices come into contact with someone’s mouth, they will not be used again and will be replaced.
After each use of a blue or blue/grey reliever (with a spacer):
Management of confidential medical information
Confidential medical information provided to Beaufort Secondary College to support a student diagnosed with asthma will be:
Communication plan
This policy will be available on Beaufort Secondary College’s website so that parents and other members of the school community can easily access information about Beaufort Secondary College’s asthma management procedures.
Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma
Beaufort Secondary College will be prepared to act on the warnings and advice from the Department of Education and Training when the risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma is forecast as high.
Communication
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
Further information and resources
POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL
Policy last reviewed |
August 2023 |
Approved by |
Principal |
Next scheduled review date |
August 2024 |