AIBU - school and asthma

[tornandhurt]

Honest opinions pls.

DS suffers incredibly with Asthma. Struggling to control (been 2 years now) and at a point where they are considering further investigation into his lungs etc.

He is only 5 and still has little understanding of when he "needs" the pump. Therefore, on the advice of clinic, school have been instructed to give inhaler each and every day without fail at lunchtime.

Have had previous issues whereby a teacher on an outing made the decision not to administer because she thought he was fine (being a sufferer herself) and didn't see the necessity. I spoke to the HT and advised that it was not her place to make that call and they had been given clear instruction....was assured this would not happen again.

FF a few months until yesterday. Collected DS from childminder at 6.15pm. I could immediately hear his breathing was strained. Childminder mentioned she had given him an extra "puff" as she felt the same, but put it down to weather.

Got home and he was getting progressively worse. Checked bag, note in home diary saying "not administered inhaler today as its run out - please provide another."

Couple of issues with this:

• How did they not notice it was running low? *Even getting past the above, why didn't someone think to call me as ask whether there was anyone local to drop one off, or what we wanted to do"

Surely as his parents that's our decision, not theirs?? In fact had they have called me I could have arranged for childminder to administer the missed dose at 3,30 which would have avoided a night awake pacing and giving him a nebulizer!

AIBU to be really hacked off and complaining?

If his asthma is that bad when things are reviewed I would also question the inhalers being stored away from him. If he has an attack he needs he inhalers straight away not when someone has got to the medical room, found his and got back!

Ds inhaler goes wherever he does in school. The spare is stored in the office but the main one stays where he is.

The school should have rung you.

In hindsight a back up inhaler is obviously a good idea, however it is not acceptable for the school to simply take no action.

Please make sure the school know you want them to ring you.
Our kids school will not ring parents unless they really can't avoid it. (Like if they have broken a bone, are unconscious, or on the way to hospital in an ambulance!)