Asthma in children: Creating an asthma action plan

Help your child manage his or her asthma by planning ahead. Here's help creating an asthma action plan.

An asthma attack can be a frightening experience for both you and your child. Reduce the anxiety by thinking ahead and creating an asthma action plan. Following a written plan will help you and your child:

Quickly recognize early warning signs of an asthma attack
Know when to adjust asthma medications
Keep tabs on how well treatment is working
Know when to call a doctor or seek emergency help

Following a written plan is especially important if your child has moderate or severe persistent asthma, a history of severe asthma attacks (exacerbations), or poorly controlled asthma.

Getting started

Work with your child's doctor to develop a written asthma action plan, including step-by-step instructions for preventing and handling asthma attacks. If your child is older, he or she may benefit from helping create the plan and using it to monitor how well treatment is working.

Cover the basics

Every child's asthma action plan is unique. A thorough plan can help you:

Manage your child's medications. List your child's asthma medications and when to take them — including daily control medications and as-needed rescue medications. Make sure you know what medications you have on hand, where they are and how to use them. If your child has a nebulizer to administer medication in mist form, the asthma action plan should include instructions for when to use it.
Take action based on symptoms and peak flow readings. A peak flow meter can help you monitor how well your child's lungs are working from day to day. If your child's peak flow rate drops, use the action plan to adjust his or her medication. Peak flow readings are a useful tool for quickly recognizing early signs of an asthma flare up.
Recognize an asthma attack. When you're on the lookout for warning signs — such as coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath — you can take prompt action at the first sign of an attack. Follow the action plan's instructions for using quick-relief medications and other drugs meant for more serious attacks.
Know when to seek emergency care. Some attacks can't be managed at home. Use the action plan to recognize the signs of rapidly worsening asthma, such as lips and nails turning blue or difficulty speaking.
Organize contact information. List the doctor's phone number, emergency phone numbers and the location of the nearest emergency room.

Check out a sample plan

The asthma action plan that follows is a sample intended for children ages 5 and older. Print the plan and take it to your child's next appointment. Ask the doctor to help you personalize the plan for your child. If your child is younger than 5, ask how to adjust the plan for your child's needs.

Sample Asthma Action Plan for Children Ages 5 and Older (PDF file requiring Adobe Reader).

Keep the action plan within reach

Keep your child's asthma action plan handy. Make sure your child and everyone who cares for him or her — including grandparents and baby sitters — know where to find it and what to do in case of worsening asthma symptoms. Give a copy of the plan to the school nurse and your child's teachers and coaches. Keep another copy in your wallet or purse, in case an asthma attack occurs away from home.

Stay in touch with your child's doctor

Even with the best action plan, you may still have questions about handling an asthma attack. Review your child's asthma action plan at every doctor visit. Tell the doctor about any problems your child is having sticking with the plan. If in doubt — or if you're simply concerned about your child's signs and symptoms — call your child's doctor. Acting early can help prevent a serious attack.

Work with the doctor to adjust the asthma action plan as he or she gets older. Children of different ages need slightly different treatment plans for asthma.

As your child gets older, he or she will need to learn to take more responsibility for monitoring and managing his or her asthma. By the time your child is a teen, he or she may be able to take a key role in using the action plan to monitor symptoms and adjust treatment.