I-KAN's Appendix Z Forms
AsthmaPolicy (pdf)
  1. POLICY INFORMATION
    1. Subject:
    2. Policy:
    3. Procedure:
Current Status: Issued
Original Issue Date: 09/26/02
Reviewed: 09/26/03, 09/23/04, 09/23/05, 09/23/06, 09/23//07, 09/23/08
Next Review Date: 09/23/09
Document Number: TR AST 02-VO1

POLICY INFORMATION

Subject:

Youth who suffer from asthma in the Iroquois-Kankakee ROE Teen REACH Program.

Policy:

It is the policy of the Iroquois-Kankakee ROE Teen REACH Program to ensure that all youth enrolled in the program suffering from asthma feel secure and are encouraged to participate in all activities, notwithstanding any restrictions imposed by their condition.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It is a disease which when mild causes cough, breathlessness during exertion and sometimes wheezing. At its most severe, resistance to airflow might be enough to threaten life.

Procedure:

  1. At the time of enrollment of youth in a Teen REACH program, parents/guardians will be required to provide the program with information about any medications taken by their child, including asthma medications.
  2. In relation to asthma, parents/guardians will be asked to provide the following information:
    • the extent to which their child suffers from asthma
    • treatments required
    • what causes/triggers the asthma
    • the ability of the child to self administer sprays and written permission from the parent/guardian to do so.
    • Notification to the program of any change in their child's condition/medication
  3. The parent/guardian will be responsible to send asthma medication with their child to the program including asthma sprays to ensure that asthmatic youth with have access to asthma sprays at all times especially prior to or during physical activity. The parents are to instruct their child on the dosage and the proper way to take their medication.
  4. Children will have access to their asthma sprays at all times in the program
  5. A list of asthma suffers will be kept on file at each site to ensure that all Teen REACH staff are aware of whom the youth with asthma are in the program.
  6. Staff will be given information about asthma and how to recognize asthma attacks. Each staff person will be made aware of his or her responsibility in the case of a participant suffering an asthma attack during Teen REACH activities.
  7. As a measure of safety, asthma sufferers will be excluded from rigorous physical activities if they do not have their asthma spray with them. Youth are to be encouraged to keep their inhalants with them during exercise and other activities. Physical activity is a trigger in 80% of asthmatic children.
  8. If a youth suffers an asthma attack and their spray does not appear to ease the situation or if the spray is emptied or lost, a Teen REACH staff member will remain with the youth to comfort them and breathe with them. Parents and medical personnel will be contacted if necessary. (Refer to Sick Child Policy)
  9. Program staff will complete an incident report if a participant has an asthma attack during an activity. The original report will be placed in the participants file and a copy will be sent to the parent /guardians in addition to the initial contact (see #8 above).
  10. Those youth with asthma going on a Teen REACH field trip must have parental/guardian consent and must take their inhalers with them on the field trip, or other outside activities. Accompanying staff will be made aware of the youth with asthma.
  11. Parents / guardians will be made aware of the asthma policy at the time of their child's enrollment in the Teen REACH program.