Nurse refuses student inhaler during asthma attack

[JoePhilly]

36. I grew up with asthma as a kid ... before inhalers were being used widely.

So I had plenty of attacks in which there was no quick relief. And its terrifying.

You have to learn to stay calm. Breath very slowly, no big breaths, no talking, and absolutely no coughing. Its like having some one hold your head underwater, and tell you "don't panic".

So when it became clear that she had asthma, the training began. Inhaler by her bed. One in the backpack, one at the school office.

And we've practiced the "no inhaler available" scenario. We've done it at home, with an inhaler there. She has a minor attack, and then we delay using the inhaler for a brief time. Have her concentrate on breathing slow. Staying calm. Determine ... "could I walk and get help?" ... "should I call for help on the phone?" ... "text some one?" ... stay calm. We never push this ... but we use it as a kind of "simulation". So if she's ever in a bad situation, she'll have some advance warning, and a better idea of how to respond.

The worst thing you can do is panic, because if you try to breath fast and deep, it gets even harder to breathe.

Like I said, the folks at are school are pretty good, but I want my daughter to be able to handle the situation where she is on her own.