Set up a tour of your child's school to look for potential allergy and asthma triggers.

To keep kids breathing easy, make sure teachers and school staff are part of the treatment plan.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Children across the country are gearing up to head back to school, but millions of them will need to manage asthma and allergies along with homework assignments and soccer practice. This time of year, the mix of pollens and mold spores in the air, coupled with allergens and viruses that build up inside the school, is prime time for asthma and allergy attacks. Asthma, which can be triggered by allergies and respiratory illnesses, causes nearly a 50 percent increase in emergency room visits among children during the season. It's also the number one reason why students chronically miss school. This year, it's more important than ever to keep your child's lungs healthy because the novel H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, invades deeper into the lungs and sickens children more than the regular flu. Kids with asthma may be especially vulnerable.
What should parents do to make sure their kids breathe easier this school year? We asked representatives of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), and they suggest taking these 10 steps:

#1. Schedule a back-to-school checkup. Visit your allergist to be sure your child’s allergy and asthma symptoms are under control. If your child suffers form allergies but has never seen an allergist, before school starts is the perfect time to schedule an appointment to find out what triggers his or her symptoms and develop a plan for treatment.

#2. Share your treatment plan. The school staff should have a copy of your child's treatment plan, which should include a list of substances that trigger your child’s allergies or asthma, a list of medications the child takes, and a list of those to contact in an emergency.