Schools to carry spare asthma inhalers

ASTHMA THAT: Kids will soon have access to inhalers through their schools. Clive Gee/PA Wire

The new law will be introduced on October 1 to make schools have spare asthma inhalers on hand.

The requirement of the schools ends a long-running campaign from charity Asthma UK , which was supported by The Reporter Series in our 2013 charity fund.

Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said: “One in 11 children in the UK has asthma, and more than two thirds of children with asthma have told us they have had an asthma attack whilst they’ve been at school.

“Tragically the equivalent of a classroom of children still die from asthma every year, this simply has to stop.

“This law will not only give reassurance to millions of parents across the UK but it is also vital for the two children in every classroom with asthma to reduce their risk of having a potentially life threatening asthma attack at school.”

This will come as welcome news to parents in North Kirklees, which is not unfamiliar with such a tragedy. Mirfield Free Grammar student Hannan Ahmed died in 2012 following an asthma attack in the classroom.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Children with asthma, and their parents, should not have to worry about suffering an asthma attack without having the necessary medication - and this common-sense change is an important step forward.”