ASTHMA POLICY 2026 - 2027

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy, please contact Dandenong Valley SDS on 9704 4800 or use the Google Translator at the bottom of this page.

Purpose

To ensure that Dandenong Valley SDS appropriately supports students diagnosed with asthma.

Objective

To explain to Dandenong Valley SDS parents/carers, staff and students the processes and procedures in place to support students diagnosed with asthma.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• all staff, including casual relief staff, contractors and volunteers
• all students who have been diagnosed with asthma or who may require emergency treatment for asthma and their parents/carers.

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:

• breathlessness
• wheezing (a whistling noise from the chest)
• tight feeling in the chest
• persistent cough

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:

• exercise
• colds/flu
• smoke (cigarette smoke, wood smoke from open fires, burn-offs or bushfires)
• weather changes such as thunderstorms and cold, dry air
• house dust mites and moulds
• pollens
• animals such as cats and dogs
• chemicals such as household cleaning products
• deodorants (including perfumes, after-shaves, hair spray and aerosol deodorant sprays)
• food chemicals/additives
• certain medications (including aspirin and anti-inflammatories)
• laughter or emotions, such as stress

Individual asthma management

If a student diagnosed with asthma enrols at Dandenong Valley SDS:

1. Parents/carers must provide the school with an Asthma Action Plan which has been completed by the student’s medical practitioner. The plan must outline:
   • the prescribed medication taken by the student and when it is to be administered, for example as a pre-medication to exercise or on a regular basis
   • emergency contact details
   • the contact details of the student’s medical practitioner
   • the student’s known triggers
   • the emergency procedures to be taken in the event of an asthma flare-up or attack.
2. A photo of the student provided by the school is included as part of the student’s Asthma Action Plan to help identification.
3. Dandenong Valley SDS will keep all Asthma Action Plans: in the purple folder which can be located in classrooms, office, first aid and therapy rooms.
4. A student with an Asthma Action Plan only requires a Student Health Support Plan if their asthma is not well-controlled, and needs individualised medical or health-related supervision, care or adjustments at school. School staff will work with parents/carers to develop a Student Health Support Plan which will include details on:
   • how the school will provide support for the student
   • identify specific strategies
   • allocate staff to assist the student

Any Student Health Support Plan will be developed in accordance with Dandeong Valley SDS Health Care Needs Policy.

If a student diagnosed with asthma is going to attend a school camp or excursion, Dandenong Valley SDS parents/carers are required to provide any updated medical information.

5. If a student’s asthma condition or treatment requirements change, parent/carers must notify the school and provide an updated Asthma Action Plan.
6. Once a year, school staff will review Asthma Action Plans (and if relevant, Student Health Support Plans) and communicate with the parents/carers to:
   • if available, provide updated medical or health advice
   • review and provide written confirmation that the Asthma Action Plan is still current.

Student asthma kit

All students diagnosed with asthma are required to have a student asthma kit at school which contains:

• their own prescribed reliever medication labelled with the student’s name
• their spacer (if they use one)

Student asthma kits will be stored in their classroom.

Asthma emergency response plan

If a student is:

• having an asthma attack
• difficulty breathing for an unknown cause, even if they are not known to have asthma

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.

Staff will call Triple Zero “000” immediately if:

• the student is not breathing
• the student is having a severe or life threatening attack (reliever medication not working at all; cannot speak a full sentence; extreme difficulty breathing; feeling asthma is out of control; lips turning blue)
• the student is having an asthma attack and a reliever is not available
• the student is known to have anaphylaxis – staff will follow their Anaphylaxis Action Plan then give asthma first aid
• at any time the student’s condition suddenly worsens or is not improving
• staff are otherwise concerned about the student’s health and safety.

Training for staff

Dandenong Valley SDS will arrange the following asthma management training for staff:

Dandenong Valley SDS  will also conduct an annual briefing for staff on: the procedures outlined in this policy

• the causes, symptoms and treatment of asthma [schools can refer to the introductory information at the start of this policy]
• identities of the students diagnosed with asthma
• how to use a puffer and spacer
• the location of:
  • the Asthma Emergency Kits
  • asthma medication which has been provided by parents for student use.

Dandenong Valley SDS 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

Dandenong Valley SDS will provide and maintain several asthma emergency kits (minimum of two). One kit will be kept on school premises at the First Aid room and five mobile kits (one for each bus to accompany groups when they leave the school  for excursions and community activities).

Asthma kits other than the above can be located throughout the school to support classes and yard duty.

The Asthma Emergency Kit will contain:

• at least 1 blue or blue/grey reliever medication such as Airomir, Admol or Ventolin
• at least 2 spacer devices (for single person use only) to assist with effective inhalation of the blue or blue/grey reliever medication Dandenong Valley SDS will ensure spare spacers are available as replacements). Spacers will be stored in a dust proof container.
• clear written instructions on Asthma First Aid, including:
  • how to use the medication and spacer devices
  • steps to be taken in treating an asthma attack
• a record sheet/log to record when kit contents have been used to support kit maintenance, such as the number of puffs administered.

School nurse/your first aid officer will monitor and maintain the Asthma Emergency Kits. They will:

• ensure all contents are maintained and replaced where necessary
• regularly check the expiry date on the canisters of the blue or blue/grey reliever puffers and place them if they have expired or a low on doses
• replace spacers in the kits after each use (spacers are single-person use only)
• dispose of any previously used spacers.

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):

• remove the metal canister from the puffer (do not wash the canister)
• wash the plastic casing
• rinse the mouthpiece through the top and bottom under running water for at least 30 seconds
• wash the mouthpiece cover
• air dry then reassemble
• test the puffer to make sure no water remains in it, then return to the asthma emergency kit.

Management of confidential medical information

Confidential medical information provided to Dandenong Valley SDS to support a student diagnosed with asthma will be:

• recorded on the student’s file
• shared with all relevant staff so that they are able to properly support students diagnosed with asthma and respond appropriately if necessary.

Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma

Dandenong Valley SDS will be prepared to act on the warnings and advice from the Department of Education  when the risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma is forecast as high.

Communication

This policy will also be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• School website (publicly accessible)
• Newsletter
• Staff briefing/meeting
• Emailed to staff

Further information and resources

• Asthma Australia: Resources for schools
• Asthma Australia: Asthma emergency kits
• Policy and Advisory Library:
  • Asthma
  • Treating an asthma attack

School Related Policies:

• Health Care Needs Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Click here to view the Asthma Policy Document 2026-2027 (PDF)