PUPILS with chest complaints can breathe easier after their school was recognised for its work with asthma.
After working with the charity Beat Asthma, Reid Street Primary has become an Asthma Friendly School, the only one in Darlington.
Asthma affects about one in ten children limiting their breathing. The lung condition can be triggered by allergies, air pollution and other airborne irritants such as mould, respiratory infections, exercise or physical activity, the weather and air temperature, strong emotions and some medicines. It can be relieved by using Salbutamol and steroid inhalers.
Reid Street Primary School has a dedicated member of staff – parent support advisor/higher level teaching assistant Tracey Charlton – to address the issue including supervising children’s medication. Of the 410 pupils on the roll, 28 have the condition, around three in every class.
Mrs Charlton said: “We keep a register of pupils with asthma who use inhalers and keep an eye on when they are likely to run out. We always have emergency inhalers in school in case the children have forgotten theirs.
“Teachers and TAs have also undergone training and we have PHSE lessons on asthma about living with the condition, which can be life-threatening. Year 5 and 6 pupils designed an asthma logo recently reaching a shortlist in a competition.
“We have posters up asking parents not to leave their engines running outside school which would cause air pollution. This initiative helps us as staff feel more empowered and confident dealing with the issue and talking with parents.”
Mrs Charlton also assesses attendance to see how asthma affects pupils’ learning and operates care plans in school.
Principal Paula Ayto said: “Some pupils struggle with poor quality housing, pollution and allergies, so it is important we are equipped and feel confident to deal with any incidents in school, which helps put children and parents at ease.”
