Asthma

Policy Statement

Procedure

The Centre will ensure there is at least one educator present at all times that children are being educated and cared for at the centre who has undertaken approved emergency asthma management training, as per Regulation 136. All staff will be required to undergo Approved Asthma Management Training, as specified by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Training will be renewed every 3 years as required. Parents will be required to inform the Centre of any child diagnosed by a medical practitioner as being asthmatic, and the severity, at the time of enrolment. This information is recorded on the enrolment form. Parents are reminded of this requirement through the Family Handbook. Parents will be required to provide a copy of the asthma action plan, as authorised by a medical practitioner (Regulation 90).

Permission will be required from parents to have the action plan displayed in a location visible to staff responsible for the child. Any medication required such as inhalers and spacers must be supplied by the parents in a hard plastic box, clearly marked with the child’s name and any additional relevant information must be kept with the medication at all times. An emergency reliever inhaler and spacer will be kept in the First Aid Kit. Staff will be responsible for replacing the inhaler when it has expired. If the emergency spacer is used by a child during an asthma attack, the spacer will be disposed of after use, and a replacement purchased. All medication must be stored in an area easily accessible to staff (not locked away) but inaccessible to children and away from any direct heat source. When off service grounds, any asthma medication must be carried and administered only by staff adequately trained in asthma management. All staff, including relief staff and volunteers, will be informed of the currently enrolled children who have been diagnosed as being asthmatic upon employment. Staff will be responsible for familiarizing themselves with the children diagnosed.

In the event of an asthma attack occurring where a child has been diagnosed as being asthmatic, staff will follow the instructions on the child’s action plan. In the event of an asthma attack occurring where a child has not received an asthma diagnosis and has no prior history of asthma, staff will:

• Sit the child upright and reassure them. The child must not be left alone.
• Administer 4 puffs of the reliever inhaler (one puff at a time), preferably through a spacer device. The child should take 4 breaths with each puff of the inhaler.
• Wait 4 minutes
• Have another staff member contact parent or guardian
• If it is little or no improvement repeat the above steps
• If it is still little or no improvement, contact ambulance services “000”
• Continue the above steps until medical services arrive

Medication may be administered to a child without authorisation in case of an asthma emergency (Regulation 94). If medication is administered under this regulation, the approved provider or nominated supervisor of the education and care service must ensure that the following are notified as soon as practicable:

• a parent of the child
• emergency services

Staff must ensure that all asthma medication administered is recorded in a medication record. Parents/guardians of children diagnosed as being asthmatic must be provided with a copy of the Asthma Policy (Regulation 91).

Any staff member who has been diagnosed as being asthmatic by a medical practitioner must advise the Centre Coordinator. This will be recorded on their emergency details form and any additional information recorded on file.