Managing allergies may be easier for children in the summer than it is during the school year because they have more control over their environment. They can stay in the house and keep the windows closed during the peak time of the day. At school, they're often at the mercy of the school's policies, practices and preferences.
Many times they'll be in classrooms when windows are wide open during the mid morning and afternoon. Or, they may unfortunately breathe in a much higher amount of dust and dirt than they would at their own house. And, while this may not be the case for most schools, they are probably more likely to come across mold at school than they are at their own home.
Here are three ways you can help your kids manage their allergies and asthma while at school:
1. Talk with the appropriate parties
Talk with your child about how to handle their allergies when they go back to school. Some things to discuss and remind your child about include:
- The windows in the classroom may not always be shut.
- They should always take their allergy medicine when they get to school in the morning.
- If they are suffering from allergies, they should feel comfortable heading to the nurse's office.
You should also take the time to reach out to the necessary faculty members, including the school's nurse and teachers. Along with informing them your child suffers from allergies, some things you may want to ask them include the following:
- Are the windows closed or open during peak hours of the day?
- How are the ventilation systems in the school? Poor vents can amplify allergy attacks.
- How does the school help children with allergies? What procedures does it have in place to manage attacks?
2. Stay active in your kid's school
Volunteer for field trips or class parties. Doing so will allow you to see what the school's environment is like. You can then recommend improvements that will help lessen the chance kids suffer from asthma and allergies.
Playing an active role will also help you make recommendations to your child. For example, if certain classrooms tend to have poor ventilation systems or always keep the windows open, your child may be able to transfer out of the class.
3. Come up with written instructions
It's not good enough to just talk to school administrators and teachers. You should come up with a written strategy to ensure your child stays healthy and safe at all times. Remember, administrators are very busy people and while they will certainly be on board with helping your child manage their allergies, it'll be difficult for them to remember a verbal agreement weeks or months down the line.
Write up a policy that lists the following and then have all necessary parties sign the document:
- Allergens that your child is allergic to
- Types of medicines they've been prescribed
- Types of environments you'd like them to avoid (e.g., classrooms close to windows, poorly ventilated rooms)
- If recess or classes take place outside, make sure those teachers and administrators are on board with your child staying inside if it's during the peak hours of the day
- What actions will be taken if your child is suffering from an allergy attack
Another way to manage allergies is to avoid triggers. Visit Allergy Be Gone's store for a wide range of allergy control products.