Creating Asthma Friendly Schools in Montana

Asthma is a common disease among Montana children.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood, affecting an esti-mated 20,000 children ages 0-18 in Montana.  One in five Montana high school students has been told they have asthma in their lifetime and 11% of Montana high school students report currently having asthma. In a typical Montana classroom with 30 students, three children will likely have asthma.

Asthma affects school attendance and performance.

Nationwide, asthma is a leading cause of school absences. In 2003, approximately 12.8 million school days were missed due to asthma in the United States.Research indicates that students with persistent asthma symptoms and asthma related school absences may have lower test scores and academic achievement.

With planning, asthma can be controlled in the school setting.

Good asthma management includes proper use of asthma medications and reduction of environmental asthma triggers such as tobacco smoke and animal dander. Schools can support asthma management efforts by implementing policies and procedures that allow students easy access to their medications and that reduce asthma triggers in the school environment.

Creating an asthma friendly school environment can help students with asthma fully participate in all school activities and have the best chance at academic success. This booklet details seven simple steps toward creating an asthma friendly school.