This sample policy, developed by the Ontario Educational Services Corporation (OESC), can be used by school boards as a starting point to develop their own asthma policies which are required by Ryan’s Law (Ensuring Asthma Friendly Schools), 2015. Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) No. 161: Supporting Children and Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions (Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes, and/or Epilepsy) in Schools, 2018 also requires school boards to maintain a policy or policies on supporting students with prevalent medical conditions. When developing their policies, school boards should consult with their legal counsel to ensure they are meeting their statutory obligations.
School Board: [insert school board]
Asthma Policy
Policy #: [insert policy number]
Date: [insert date]
Review Date: [insert review date]
Policy Statement
In accordance with Ryan’s Law (Ensuring Asthma Friendly Schools), 2015 it is the policy of the [insert school board] to establish and maintain a policy for students diagnosed with asthma.
The safety of students with a medical condition such as asthma is a shared responsibility of the board, school, family, health care provider and community partners.
The policy outlines the board’s commitment to students with asthma.
Definitions
What is Asthma?
According to the Ontario Lung Association, asthma is a very common chronic (long-term) lung disease that can make it hard to breathe.
People with asthma have sensitive airways that react to triggers. There are many different types of triggers, for example poor air quality, mold, dust, pollen, viral infections, animals, smoke and cold air. Symptoms of asthma are variable and can include coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and sometimes could be life threatening.
For the purposes of this document, the following words have the following definitions:
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Emergency Medication
“Emergency Medication” refers to medication that is administered by a staff member to a student at the time of an asthma flare-up, for example, reliever inhaler or stand-by-medication.
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Medication
“Medication” refers to medications that are prescribed by a health care provider and, by necessity, may be administered to a student, or taken by the student during school hours or school related activities.
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Immunity
The Act to Protect Pupils with Asthma states that “No action or other proceeding for damages shall be commenced against an employee for an act or omission done or omitted by the employee in good faith in the execution or intended execution of any duty or power under this Act.”
Requirements
The board shall:
- Ensure that all students have easy access to their prescribed reliever inhaler(s) medications;
- Identify asthma triggers in classrooms, common school areas and in planning field trips and implement strategies to reduce the risk of exposure;
- Establish a communication plan to share information on asthma to parents/guardians, students, employees and include any other person who has direct contact with a student with asthma;
- Provide asthma education and regular training opportunities on recognizing and preventing asthma triggers, recognizing when symptoms are worsening and managing asthma flare-ups for all employees and others who are in direct contact with students on a regular basis;
- Require that every school principal establish a process to identify students with asthma at time of registration or following diagnosis and gather necessary asthma related information from the parents/guardians and student;
- Require that every school principal develop a Plan of Care for each student diagnosed with asthma, based on the recommendation of the student’s health care provider;
- Require that every school principal maintain a file for each student diagnosed with asthma. The file main contain personal medical information, treatment plans and/or other pertinent information about the student, if that information is obtained with the consent of the student or the parent/guardian, in accordance with applicable legislation, including relevant privacy legislation. This file shall also include current emergency contact information;
- Require that every school principal inform school board personnel and others who are in direct contact on a regular basis with a student with asthma about the contents of the student’s asthma management plan;
- Review asthma policy as part of its regular policy review cycle; and
- Include the asthma policy in the board policies posted on the school and board web sites.
Roles and Responsibilities to implement these policy requirements are in the board’s Administrative Procedures - Asthma Management Plan.
Reference Documents
- Ryan’s Law (Ensuring Asthma Friendly Schools), 2015
- Education Act Section 265 – Duties of Principal
- Education Act Regulation 298 s. 20 – Duties of Teachers