Spring Sports Safety for Student-Athletes with Asthma: Tips for Superintendents

Spring is here, and with it comes the excitement of spring sports season. However, for student-athletes with asthma, the season can be fraught with challenges. Asthma is a common condition among young athletes, affecting up to 25% of them, according to the Journal of Athletic Training.  As a superintendent, it’s important to ensure that student-athletes with asthma are safe and can participate fully in sports. In this blog post, we’ll explore tips for superintendents to ensure spring sports safety for student-athletes with asthma.

 

Understanding Asthma and its Impact on Student-Athletes

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects millions of people around the world. It is a condition that causes the airways to become inflamed, narrow, and produce excess mucus. This makes breathing difficult and can cause wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Exercise-induced asthma is a specific type of asthma triggered by physical activity.

Student-athletes with asthma may face unique challenges during spring sports. Exercise-induced asthma is triggered by physical activity, which is a key component of many sports. For these students, participating in sports activities can increase the risk of asthma attacks, especially if they are not properly managed.

 

Tips for Superintendents to Ensure the Safety of Student-Athletes with Asthma

 

1. Create an Asthma Management Program

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shares “such a program establishes specific policies, procedures, and activities that promote the health, development, and achievement of students who have asthma.  It also outlines staff roles and provides staff training on how to help students who have asthma, especially how to recognize and respond appropriately to an asthma attack.”

The HHS recommends establishing a team of staff across the district to help develop, implement, and monitor the asthma management program.

2. Adhere to Pre-Participation Physical Exams (PPE) Requirements

Pre-participation physical exams are a key tool in identifying students with asthma and ensuring they are properly managed. These exams can help identify any underlying health conditions, such as allergies or asthma, that could affect a student’s ability to participate in sports activities. Additionally, these exams can help identify any potential triggers that could cause an asthma attack, such as pollen or pollution.

The National Library of Medicine published a study that shares

“fifty (98%) states required a PPE before participation. Most states (53%, n = 27) required a specific PPE form, whereas 24% (n = 12) of states recommended a specific form.”

As superintendent, you’ll want to be sure your athletic director is enforcing compliance with PPE requirements to ensure the health and safety of your students, and to avoid any legal repercussions.

 

3. Develop Individualized Asthma Action Plans

Every student with asthma is unique, and their asthma management plans should reflect this. Superintendents should verify that school nurses and healthcare providers develop individualized asthma action plans for student-athletes. These plans should include information on the student’s asthma triggers, medications, and emergency protocols.

The CDC offers an Asthma Action Plan you can use as a starting point. Be sure to check your state and board requirements to ensure your action plan is comprehensive and compliant.

4. Obtain Required Medical Authorization Documents

Each school in your district must receive these three documents before personnel can administer any student medication:

• Medical Authorization
• Parental-consent form
• Medication label

All coaching staff should be made aware of school medication management policies and work with school health staff and/or athletic trainers to ensure these policies are implemented as written to ensure student safety.

5. Ensure Proper Medication Management

For student-athletes with asthma, proper medication management is essential. Superintendents should work with school nurses and health care providers to establish procedures to ensure that all student-athletes have access to their asthma medications during sports activities. This may include having medication on-hand during games and practices, as well as ensuring that students know how to properly use their inhalers.

 

6. Promote Good Air Quality

Poor air quality can be a trigger for asthma attacks. Some districts have implemented an indoor air quality (IAQ) program to ensure their schools are safe environments for students with asthma, and to be compliant with State Indoor Air Quality Laws. Superintendents should work with facility managers to have policies in place and verify adherence to schedules to:

• Have proper ventilation systems
• Air filters are regularly changed
• Consider a no-idling policy for vehicles
• Mop and damp dust often
• Use low-odor, low-emitting products

 

7. Educate Coaches, Teachers, and Staff

Proper education is essential in ensuring the safety of student-athletes with asthma. Superintendents should work to ensure that coaches, teachers, and staff are educated on asthma and how to properly manage it. Our course, Asthma Awareness and Response, includes training on:

• Your Responsibilities Regarding Asthma
• Recognizing and Responding to Respiratory Distress
• How to Respond to an Asthma Attack
• Medication-Administration Overview
• Required Medical-authorization Documents
• Emergency Stock Albuterol
• Medication-Administration Procedures
• Inhalers
• Nebulizers
• Self-Administration of Medications
• Medication Errors

 

By following these tips and implementing comprehensive asthma management plans, superintendents and staff can ensure the safety and well-being of student-athletes with asthma during spring sports season and beyond. Remember, with proper asthma management, student-athletes with asthma can participate fully in sports and achieve their athletic goals.