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Utilizing Your Institution’s Education Department
As you prepare your Peak Performance USA program, you may want to seek the assistance of your institution’s professional education department. They possess valuable resources and knowledge about training professionals in medical education. Be prepared to provide information on the Peak Performance USA program that will be presented in the schools (i.e., school nurses, teachers, children and families).
Also share with your education staff the information provided in the Peak Performance USA packet. They can help you determine what visual aids or presentation equipment will help you effectively present the program to the schools.
What if the school system you are approaching already has an asthma management program?
If the school system already has an asthma management program, you may wish to provide them with the entire Peak Performance USA program with the suggestion that they use components of Peak Performance USA, such as the forms, to supplement their program. If they do not have a peak flow meter, demonstrate its value and use.
Guidelines for Children, Parents, and School Staff
Written guidelines on asthma management, including the following points, should be provided to children, parents and school staff:
- Specific instructions from the student’s physician about use of medications (including dosing, frequency of administration, guidelines for changing dose or adding medications if appropriate) and what adverse effects should be reported to the physician. Instructions should specify that only the medication prescribed by the child’s physician be administered.
- How to monitor body signs or symptoms and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) to detect increasing airflow obstruction as early as possible; early signs of airflow obstruction vary according to the individual and should be identified for each patient.
- Criteria for initiating or modifying treatment: a drop in PEF, early signs or early symptoms.
- List of steps to take in managing an acute asthma episode (i.e. removing the precipitating trigger, giving medication per physician’s instruction, avoiding strenuous physical activity, and keeping the child calm).
- Specific criteria for seeking emergency medical care, including a pattern of declining PEF; failure of medications to control worsening symptoms; difficulty in breathing (wheeze may be absent), walking, or talking; intercostals retractions; blue fingernails or lips.
- Observable signs that long-term therapy is less than optimal, such as sleep interruption and/or consistently low or highly variable PEF. Such signs should be discussed with the child’s physician.