School asking for proof about asthma?

[Audreyseyebrows]

Ds (15) wears a mask when needed at school (and out of school) however at times asks to remove it for short periods because of his asthma.
School have said absolutely not and want proof of his asthma. How do I prove it? I don’t want to bother the Gp. Would a prescription for his inhalers be enough?
When he started this school we ticked the box to say he was asthmatic but he hasn’t used his inhalers much in the last year or two as he hasn’t needed to. They did know but they are saying that they don’t.

A bit weird to ask for proof but I’d imagine a copy of his prescription would be fine.

I'm probably going to get jumped on for this but

Hopefully a copy of his prescription will be enough. I do think the time has come, unfortunately, that people should be prepared to prove their exemption when asked politely by someone whose job involves protecting people.

Too many people are using "I'm exempt and you can't ask me why." when it's utter bullshit.

I honestly think that providing proof will actually work in favour of those who genuinely can't as more people will be wearing masks.

Doesn't he have a prescribed inhaler in school?
My understanding is that a form should be filled in with details of asthma and an inhaler prescribed to him should be at the school in case it's needed.
Ask to see their medical policy. They should also outline what their rules are in an updated health and safety policy (they may call it a Covid update to existing policies)

I will provide some kind of proof I just wasn’t sure what and it felt bizarre that they are saying that they have no record of him being asthmatic.

@BowtieBling he did have one at school but hasn’t needed one for a while so didn’t replace the one at school when it went out of date. He was managing well but seems to be struggling with wearing the mask for long periods. He isn’t asking not to wear one at all, he just needs to be able to remove it for short periods when he is struggling. He’s happy to wear a mask and absolutely understands the importance.

If he's asthmatic then he should have a care plan at school, what if he were to have an asthma attack??

A care plan and spare inhaler!

Agree with Mammyloveswine. Them asking for proof has worked well as you know that his details need updating.
We purchased a breathing bracket for our DSs mask to make it more comfortable for him. Is a plastic insert that creates a little more space between his nose and mouth and the fabric of the mask. Got ours from Amazon. Hth

Do not make the mistake of thinking he's grown out of his asthma without his dr confirming, he will always need an inhaler on him and asthma action plan.

I was daft & thought I had grown out of it but hadn't I was just lucky till I had my first major attack & ended up in hospital. Was bloody scary

If he has asthma, he should be managing it. If it is not being managed then he really needs to start.
As an asthmatic, I can tell you it's no fun to have a sudden attack and not have an inhaler and areo chamber.
If his asthma is managed, he will be able to wear his mask

Buy a better mask, get a note from your doctor and provide the school with another inhaler. It’s better being over prepared.

Very true that it’s highlighted that his details need updating. I just don’t understand why it will have been removed. I’ll speak to them tomorrow.

Thanks @BowtieBling I’ll have a look.

Will the doctor write a note though @Joeydoesntshare?

If your son is asthmatic then there absolutely should be a copy of his asthma plan in school so that staff know what to do if he has an attack on site.

There should also be an inhaler and spacer with his name on it for the same reason.

They should be checking the medication and info annually.

If none of that is happening they're probably suspicious. A recent prescription would be helpful but the above more helpful.

Asthma U.K. has advice on their website for both schools and parents of school children plus a downloadable plan.

He may be well controlled but asthma can come from nowhere and need urgent treatment.

I need to add that the school I work in wasn't fully aware of the need for plans. They're really important as everyone's triggers and symptoms are different. Some don't wheeze - I've witnessed a teacher being skeptical of a child who coughed a lot with asthma and dismissed it as a cold. So didnt appreciate he needed his inhaler. My own son and I just cough - a lot.

But there really should be a person in charge of medical stuff who communicates to all staff and manages it.

I agree it’s very worrying that they don’t have a record on file that he has asthma. I would definitely want the school to look into this, you shouldn’t have to get a doctors confirmation.

If the prescription has lapsed, then does he officially have asthma? If he does, would you not get a new prescription? I think this is fair enough, as there are a lot of children who use inhalers temporarily when young and then don't require them once they have grown. The category is asthma, so either you meet the criteria or you don't, and if you do, then surely the prescription is proof that a doctor feels you warrant it.

I agree the time has come for people who are exempt to be prepared to open a dialogue as to why.

Well I think that shows why the school needs proof.

As far as they are concerned, he doesn't have asthma, as it's not been notified to them. You're putting them in a very unfair position.

So just 'having asthma' isn't a synonym for being exempt. You are exempt only if you cannot wear a mask. It is the presentations and effect of the condition that matters, not the fact of the diagnosis

It sounds like your DS can do, and has been doing without enough struggle for you to start sending him with an inhaler (let alone it being is so very mild that you did not feel the need to inform the school in the first place).

Also you have not felt the need to take him to the GP to discuss a new management plan. As pp have pointed out, some DC outgrow the need for an inhaler. Your actions to date suggest this may well be the case.

so didn’t replace the one at school when it went out of date.

I missed this line, to them he doesn't have asthma.

Is he on daily steroid ones?

Have you had a review this year with the asthma nurse?

I think I get their stance.... If your child doesnt have any inhalers at school why would they think that he has Asthma to the point of not being able to wear a mask...? I agree with PP that the time has come for people who are exempt from wearing a mask should be able to justify it should the occasion arise. I work in a hospital and asked someone last week who wasnt wearing a mask to please put one on. They very angrily told me that they were exempt because they had asthma. So I asked where they keep their inhalers (they had no bag/coat with pockets to keep them in) they promptly went bright red and snatched the mask out of my hand, put it on and stomped off! As much as there are genuine people out there who are exempt for good reason there are also many arseholes who make shit up so they dont have to comply like the rest of us!!!

Op, I hope you get it sorted with the school, and maybe it's just as well they've asked, so you can re-instate the care plan for your DS (and well done that he is wearing the mask as much as he can, instead of just saying oh well, I have Asthma, so I'm exempt and not even trying).

@BowtieBling, thanks for posting about those breathing brackets, order placed!

Is he actually asthmatic thought?

Has he worn a mask and it's affected his breathing or is he just swinging the leg on the back of being prescribed an inhaler as a child?

I have a DS who uses inhalers and steroids on a daily basis so please don't jump on me telling me I don't know what it's like, I do.

Having asthma which hasn’t required inhalers for over a year is not a reason to not wear a mask. Please don’t pin it on asthma as it is dishonest. He obviously doesn’t like wearing a mask/feels anxious, but this is a separate issue from a childhood asthma diagnosis. Please don’t ask for “a note” from your doctor (waste of appointment) instead book an asthma review to get him up to date and see if he still actually needs inhalers. Masks don’t really come into that conversation.

Our school updates medical forms at least once a year, worrying your DS school doesn’t