Students with asthma and allergies

Students with asthma  and allergies will pack more than just a lunchbox and bookbag when they start school this year: They'll be devising ways to keep their life-saving medications close at hand should they need them. No longer do they have to be locked up in the nurse's cabinet or the office. Laws passed in all 50 states now ensure students have the right to carry and use their asthma medications at school.

But how can parents be sure their children know what to do when symptoms arise? Most schools require permission from the student's physician, saying they are ready to take charge of their treatment. So the first step is visiting the doctor and getting a written asthma (or anaphylaxis) action plan. "Then, like learning to tie their shoes or recite their ABCs, kids will need to practice what they learn and have the supportive reinforcement of parents and teachers throughout the process," said Nancy Sander, Founder and President of Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), the leading national nonprofit family organization for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.