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he doesn't enjoy PE at school, he was placed in top set PE, but some kids were mean about his size and became very withdrawn, so he had to move down to bottom set, which has brought his confidence up a lot, he still isn't keen, but he finds it okay.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!!!

If anything op I think you've been quite measured in your anger. I think I'd have been tempted to half strangle the PE teacher so half his air was cut off then have him run round the course and when he wanted to stop tell him you'll have to finish the course first.

Kick up a huge stink. A PE teacher is not a medical professional, they don't get to act like that and put your child's health at risk

Def not overboard on the anger! Even the school know he was bad because they rang you to pick him up!

I have exercise-induced asthma and started to get wheezy near the end of a fun-run type race (despite taking it before setting off). I didn't carry my inhaler with me at the time - I did after that, it was not a pleasant experience! In fact, I was once stopped going to the start line of another race by a more serious runner whose inhaler had run out and who wanted a blast of my canister as we had the same one!

Unacceptable
Really dangerous
Complain vociferously
I have asthma, the patient knows when they need the reliever
The fact that he needed hospital treatment should spark a review of what the teacher did
let us know what happens

Lordy, that's so unsafe.

Please do take it further and ask the school to educate its teachers about the reality of asthma.

That teacher is dangerous. I'd be bloody fuming.

Good luck

Definitely not overboard with the anger. I'm fuming and I don't know your son from Adam. I wouldn't rest until I knew this teacher had had further training AND more than a slap on the wrist re this. He put a child's life in danger - that's not to be minimised by anyone! 😡

The PE teacher is an uninformed dick and should be taken to task.

Absolutely YANBU.

Asthma can be life threatening.

I'd definitely be taking this further with the school - complain and make sure they know he was hospitalised as a direct result of the PE teachers actions for starters.

For fuck's sake that's dangerous. Having just redone my paed first aid course it's frightening to read, they really hammer home how quickly asthma can kill an otherwise healthy person.

FFS this is not just any teacher, this IS a PE teacher! Surely his training will have included chronic health conditions, their risks, and the key responsibilities of the teacher in managing the risk for pupils.

I would complain both to the school and the Local Authority, the teacher must face consequences for his dangerous actions and failure to safeguard your DS.

I'm fuming on your and your DS's behalf.

WTAF???

An asthma attack is considered high priority by 999. The teacher's lackadaisical approach to your ds's inhaler is more than appallingly irresponsible, it is grounds for a lawsuit. I'm not suggesting you go down that route but at the very least the school must deal with this asap.

If a child says they need their inhaler they should be given it. End of. Even if the teacher thought the child was using it as an excuse, the risk of being wrong is too serious not to listen. I suspect the teachers attitude was because they knew they were wrong not to have brought it with them, but that in no way excuses it.

I am forever nagging my brownies and guides to keep inhalers with them and it's the one thing I will happily look after while they do activities (in my pocket, not on a desk!) and would never ever consider telling them to get on with the activity if they asked for their inhaler.

Can you try and find shorts with zipped pockets that he can wear during PE so his inhaler won't fall out?

Can he not wear it round his neck for non contact sport?

That is unacceptable
That definitely warrants an official complaint
I can't help thinking of that boy poor who died at school from an asthma attack
www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/mar/24/sam-linton-asthma-death

I would definitely complain or at least contact school to stress the seriousness

Awful from the teacher. Can he not wear a running belt with it in for pe? If he is doing x country then unless the teacher is running next to him her having it won't help anyway.

Also, if he knows he will struggle during a certain sport he is probably going to be better having some ventolin before setting off

You are going underboard with your anger. This should be a formal disciplinary matter for the school. What a massive twat the teacher is!

I'm usually someone who rolls their eyes at a 'complain to the school thread' but actually a PE teacher should know better than this.
I think you should def raise it with the school and would suggest they use this opportunity to provide some education to all the teachers about asthma and the importance of proximity to inhalers.
Personally I wouldn't be baying for blood unless it happens again but maybe that's just me. I feel that everyone makes mistakes, even serious ones, but if you keep doing it once you've been told there is no excuse...

YANBU
My MIL died because of asthma. An ambulance was called and they worked on her for 45 minutes before they had to give up. Definitely definitely definitely kick up a MASSIVE stink about this incompetence, your son was harmed by his pe teacher who must have known better. My asthma is normally very well controlled but I've been blue lighted in because I couldn't breathe without grunting one time, I was coughing so hard I hurt my intercostal muscles.

I did a FirstAid course recently and we were told; No inhaler; no school, let alone going on a Cross Country Run

Terrible behaviour by the PE teacher

I had a similar experience at school. I was pretty fit at the time, worked at local riding school, was doing my d of e etc. I was ok doing inside pe but outside stuff really kicked it off if there was lots of running.

I had a note from home saying I should be allowed to sit it out if I felt it necessary. Sadistic pe teacher told me I must do it. I ended up collapsed on hockey pitch.

Definitely, definitely complain. In writing and in person.

Christ OP he couldhave died. PP's saying it could have been a lethal mistake are not exaggerating! Maybe get him a little bumbag to carry the bluey - fucks sake, what a twat the teacher is!

The fact that he needed hospital treatment should spark a review of what the teacher did

Another asthmatic here, with one asthmatic kid and another who has episodes of exercise-induced wheezing under certain circumstances (cold air, or poor air quality). The fact that your son required a nebuliser makes this really quite serious.

I'd echo what PPs are saying - this needs a formal (written) communication with the school. It doesn't need to be couched as a complaint - depends what your relationship with the school is like; if you want to keep relations cordial, you can simply put the facts in your OP in writing to the head teacher (keep it succinct!) with a request that the school develop a formal policy regarding the use of inhalers during PE by children with exercise-induced asthma. Obviously if you don't get a prompt response you can escalate it.

I think a visit to your GP or asthma nurse is also called for, as it may be that your son's asthma isn't sufficiently well controlled.

Teacher needs hauling over the fucking coals. What a self-important little twatbadger he is!