Understanding and Implementing Asthma Action Plan for Children

Asthma-Action-Plan-for-Children

When dealing with chronic disorders, kids are more at risk than adults. They need more care and attention since they cannot look after themselves. In such a situation, an asthma action plan for children is a must. An asthma action plan checklist devised for a particular child becomes the go-to guide for people around them for precautionary measures and worst-case scenarios. And so is the case with asthmatic children.  

What is an action plan for asthma? Why is it important?

Asthma-Action-Plan-for-Children

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lungs affecting 38 million people around the world, as per 2015 research. Kids and adults alike can fall prey to this disorder. Asthma action plan for children is nothing but a compilation of precautions to avoid triggering an asthma attack.

It even includes step-by-step instructions to help to deal with an attack, if ever one occurs. Kids need to be monitored closely at all times. Moreover, every kid has a unique action plan. Given their physical conditions, it is crucial to have an exclusive action plan for each kid suffering from asthma.

How to read the action plan for asthma?

Asthma-Action-Plan-for-Children

As mentioned before, every asthma action plan for children is different. However, the basic idea of the asthma action plan checklist remains the same. So how do you read the action plan? Usually, such plans are colour coded. They use the colour combinations of traffic lights to help understand the rules better.

  • Green is for when everything so going good and fine. The green zone directs you to keep an eye out for symptoms that can flare up. It is a precautionary measure which tells you what to do to keep your kid out of danger.
  • Yellow is when your kid may be facing certain mild issues. It tells you how to bring a prospective severe asthma attack under control.
  • Lastly, the colour red designates your route of action when there is a severe attack and your kid needs urgent medical attention. This is also known as the danger zone.

Just teaching your kid how to go about it will suffice, especially when they are on their own. If your child is old enough to read and recognise colours, make it a point to let them know how to use the chart, in case need be.

COPD Action Plan:

Asthma-Action-Plan-for-Children

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder is another life-threatening condition, especially when it happens to children. You need to devise an action plan for your kid with this condition, if they have it. The pattern for a COPD action plan, like asthma action plan for children, remains the same.

Currently there are 16 million people in the USA, and counting, who are struggling with COPD.  The main aim of getting a plan at hand for dealing with COPD is to create more awareness about it. For children with COPD who cannot look after themselves, their parents and guardians need to be given an action plan for it. The same can be said about adults too.

Some of the other goals of making COPD action plan common are:

  • To let people understand the intensity of this illness
  • To make people aware of its symptoms and treatments
  • To improve the quality of treatments available for COPD
  • To create more awareness about it
  • To encourage people can go get themselves checked for COPD

How to implement the asthma action plan for children?

Asthma-Action-Plan-for-Children

The most important aspect here is to keep the asthma action plan for children with the kid at all times. Anyone who is supervising the child, even if it is for a short while, must have access to this plan. If possible, teach your older kids to read and use the plan. When your asthmatic child comes of age, teach them how to use it too.

  • Get your asthma action plan paediatric reviewed every 4-6 months.
  • Make sure your kid’s school, day care centre, and home babysitter have a copy each of the plan with clear instructions of using it. Keep a couple of copies at home too.
  • Place the action plan at a visible spot known to everyone in the house for easy access during emergencies.
  • If your doctor makes any changes in the plan, immediately make new copies of it and update the people around your kid.

Final verdict:

An asthma action plan for children is only as good as the parents and guardians make it.  If your kid is known to have certain special conditions, make sure to include them in the plan as well. This idea can be executed for chronic disorders other than asthma too. Remember to get your action plan paediatric confirmed every few months. So, go ahead and design the best action plan with the help of your doctor for your kid today!

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