To the editor:

Does your child have asthma? If so, there are a few extra steps you should take in order to set them up for success this school year.

The first is to make sure your child has an asthma checkup with his or her doctor. This visit will make sure their current medications are effective and that your child has the prescriptions he or she needs.

Also, use that time to develop an asthma action plan in collaboration with your child and his or her healthcare provider. The Virginia Asthma Coalition (www.virginiaasthmacoalition.org) provides a free template to make sure your child’s teachers and school nurse know how to care for your child should he or she experience symptoms.

With the checkup behind you and action plan in hand, reach out to your school nurse. He or she will be able to help you ensure your child has access to his or her medication throughout the school day. The nurse will also put your child’s asthma action plan on file.

Finally, as you check the daily weather forecast, be sure to check the daily air quality forecast, as well. Air pollution is a known trigger of asthma symptoms, and on bad air-quality days, your child should limit outdoor exercise.

Suffolk City received a “D” from the American Lung Association’s 2015 State of the Air Report, meaning that Suffolk’s 1,900 kids with asthma should be especially attentive to daily air quality.

Visit www.airnow.gov and type in your ZIP code to get your daily air quality forecast.

Jennifer Kaufer

American Lung Association in Virginia