Parents and students express concerns with current school policies on asthma inhalers. Congress has proposed a bill to change this policy, but until then children must worry about their health in school.
15-year-old Katie Popek was playing a game of basketball with her friends, and all of a sudden she couldn't breath. It continued for several minutes and the only thing that could save her was across the street in a locked cabinet.
Millions of children with asthma in the U.S are currently living that very situation. According to the American Lung Association there are over 5.2 million school-aged children that are diagnosed with asthma. Half the states in the U.S. are under a "zero tolerance" policy, which means that students are not allowed to carry their inhalers in class. The school administrators of the remaining states may decide whether or not the students may carry inhalers with them.
This has increasingly become a debate among parents and schools with arguments on both sides.
Every year 5,000 people including children and adults die from asthma attacks because their medication was not easily accessible or they could not get medical attention in time.
Although schools don't want to be held responsible for any misuse of drugs on the premises, it is causing students to worry about their own health. Popek, a freshman from Hawthorne, NJ, has suffered from asthma since she was 10.
"It's hard not having my inhaler, especially in classes like gym, where I am constantly worrying if I am going to have an asthma attack, and my inhaler is in the nurses office."
While students are worrying in class, their parents are even more panicky while at home or work. Cathy Mazzlo, a working mom of three from Wyckoff, NJ says,
"I've heard other stories about children dying because they couldn't get their inhalers in time, and I don't think it should be something I need to worry about while trying to get through the day."
Despite the fears of students and parents, school administrations have remained unwavering. Parents can get their doctor involved to possibly work out an agreement with the school. Some parents have been sending their children to school with the inhalers hidden in school bags, but doctors do advise against this.
Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would encourage schools to allow children to carry medication with them, if they feel an asthma attack coming on. A bill in the House of Representatives is waiting to be heard by committee. |
While this in the works, until legislation passes parents and children will be on their own.
