PE teacher brushes DS's asthma under the carpet.

[Walkies5]

Hi, I have name changed as this does give info about my son away.

He is 12. Year 8. He also has asthma and that is written on his file and his inhaler is in his pocket at all times, something which has been agreed by the school medical person, but gets handed to the teacher for PE or trips.

My son is also a bit overweight, something the asthma nurse has never mentioned (thank God) as DS is fully aware of how he looks and is continuous of his tummy. He is active though - plays tennis. Trains 2 hours 3 nights a week and does rugby on the remaining nights and has a match on Saturday. Sometimes tennis tournaments at weekend too, so he is fit. However, he doesn't enjoy PE at school, he was placed in top set PE, but some kids were mean about his size and became very withdrawn, so he had to move down to bottom set, which has brought his confidence up a lot, he still isn't keen, but he finds it okay.

His school does X country 4 times a year - 2 times in the winter, on the playground and 2 times in the summer on the grass area. DS dreads this, not only does he have to run with the kids who used to pick on him (as its a mixed year group thing) he also does have bad asthma and it plays up on long runs. He normally does come last, maybe due to his weight, who knows? Anyway, he was wheezing, which he knows to then take a puff. As he was at the back, the PE teacher was encouraging him to get to the finish line ( where all the other kids were ) and DS stopped and said he needed to take his inhaler (which was supposed to be with his teacher) and he said no no you'll be fine, you're just out of breath. He said no, he really needs it. The teacher then explained how it was actually left on the PE office desk area. DS said he will go and get it, but the teacher said that he had to finish first. DS walked the last bit, which resulted in those bloody boys giggling. DS went to next lesson and couldn't breathe very well. I had to pick him up and he had a neb at the hospital to sort it out, which rarely needs to happen if he is bloody given his inhaler

Sorry, just needed a bit of a rant!!!

[CocktailQueen]

Which inhaler does he have in his pocket all the time? The blue or brown?

[Coldtoeswarmheart]

that's awful.

[Walkies5]

He has blue in his pocket, during the school day

[Jojay]

That's awful. Inhalers should be on hand at all times. I'd definitely complain. The PE teacher needs to know that his actions but your ds in hospital. Ask how they will change their procedures to ensure that no child is separated from their inhaler again.

[Stratter5]

Formal complaint. That is lethal practice.

[ToadsforJustice]

Write a letter of complaint to the school. Insist that your DS keeps the inhaler in his pocket at all times. I would also point out to the school that the PE teacher is not suitably qualified to decided whether or not your DS needs his inhaler.

[GinAndColonic]

Why can't he do PE with it in his pocket? I would ask to see head of year and also see my GP and pay for a doctor's note if GP would agree advising PE teacher that he needed to go to hospital after the race and how measures need to be put in place and protected.

[Walkies5]

Thank you everyone

Gin he doesn't have any pockets for PE

[situatedknowledge]

^^ good grief this needs to be formally complained to school about!

[Beepbopboop]

That teacher is a dickhead and incompetent at his job. Complain to the school.
He should not be a PE teacher if he doesn't appreciate how serious asthma can get.

[CocktailQueen]

How often does he need his blue? You shouldn't need it much, if at all - the brown should control asthma.

If he regularly needs the blue during exercise, he should have it with him at all times. And the PE teacher is a dick.

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

So the teacher put a child's life in danger because he couldn't be fucked to carry an inhaler.

He shouldn't be in a position of power/care. Not really.

[ToadsforJustice]

My DS had his inhaler confiscated by a sadistic PE teacher that thought asthma was "all in the mind". After an ambulance had to be called because DS had an attack playing football, he was "allowed" to keep the inhaler in his sock.

[Walkies5]

Cocktail - he does have it with him at all times. When he can't (due to PE kit having no pockets) the PE teacher carries it during PE, but he had left it on the desk.

He has brown morning and night, which controls, but he does need blue a couple of times - definitely during X country

[Alisvolatpropiis]

That's outrageous.

It makes me really angry how asthma is so often treated as a nothing condition. In many it is a chronic lifelong condition.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Straight in to the school tomorrow morning. This is a safe guarding issue. When will she take notice? When your poor DS is blue in the face, or heaven forbid. When he's fighting for his life.

[kvilebu]

Complain. That situation could have turned out far far worse than it did.

[CocktailQueen]

Yep, then definitely complain and get the school to review its asthma protocols. PE teacher sounds like he needs a refresher course. Glad your ds is ok now.

[LittleHouseOnTheShelf]

My child would not stay at a school that was so complacent about their asthma if that teacher was going to be allowed anywhere near them. Teachers like that are seriously risking the life of a child.

[AdjustableWench]

That's awful. Can he wear PE shorts with pockets for things like cross country? My kids' rugby shorts have pockets. Then it would be up to him and not the irresponsible teacher to decide when he needs his inhaler. I would definitely complain, especially as he ended up in hospital.

[secondhoneymoon]

He needs to be allowed to wear something which lets him to carry his inhaler with him. Don't want to be alarmist but I know two teenagers who died from asthma attacks, your son needs his inhaler with him (and not with the PE teacher)

[Lynnm63]

Please, please complain. Make a huge fuss. My ds has asthma and is quite overweight he also does cross country and I insisted that PE teacher lets him have his inhaler on him at all times or he doesn't do cross country. I wrote it on the first page of his planner in block capitals. Your ds could have collapsed with an asthma attack and been hospitalised or worst. This stupid person thinks asthma is just like getting a bit out of breath but I've seen my son gasping for breath needing his inhaler just from laughing too much.
Incompetence like this from schools really boils my piss.

[CotswoldStrife]

That is serious. You should certainly complain and point out that your child ended up requiring hospital treatment. I hope you and your DS are doing OK, it must have been pretty scary for him too.

[Walkies5]

Thank you all! I was a little worried that I was going a bit over board with my anger! Glad you all agree.

Thank you, yes DS is doing just fine

[SallyGardens]

My DD has exercise-induced asthma and keeps her blue inhaler in her sock while in PE, training and playing matches.

Can you get a letter from.the doctor/A&E outlining the treatment your DS received today and give it to the school (I'm not in the UK so not sure how it works).