Asthma UK Scotland says all schools must receive asthma training
18 March 2010

Asthma UK Scotland says the tragic case of an 11-year-old boy who died of an asthma attack after being left in a school corridor by a teacher has reinforced its call for all schools in Scotland to receive its training programme, ‘Alert to Asthma’.

An inquest into the death of Samuel Linton from Stockport, who died of an asthma attack he experienced whilst at school, delivered a verdict as ‘death by natural causes, contributed to significantly by neglect’.

The hearing highlighted a lack of training at the school, particularly among teaching staff, on the nature of asthma and what staff are required to do to protect pupils in their care who are having an asthma attack.

Asthma UK Scotland’s free ‘Alert to Asthma’ aims to reduce emergency hospital admissions, prevent unnecessary deaths and improve the life chances of children with asthma through improved self management.

Gordon Brown, Asthma UK Scotland’s Public Affairs and Communications Manager, says: ‘We were very saddened to hear of the death of Sam Linton from an asthma attack at his school and our thoughts are with his family.

‘This tragic event reinforces the urgent need for mandatory asthma training as part of teacher training, including ongoing assessment and we will be pursuing this vital requirement with Governments across the UK.’

Brown continues: ‘There are 72,000 children and young people with asthma in Scotland and we are looking for their support in making sure their schools take advantage our free training so that teachers know about, for example, inhaler techniques and how to identify, and deal with, an asthma attack.

‘After our trained asthma nurse has delivered the training to the teachers, we will follow this up with help and support for pupils so they can set up an Asthma Committee comprising teachers and pupils both with and without asthma, implement a schools policy and establish a ‘buddying’ system within the school.

‘This will allow the pupils to be empowered to control their asthma better, avoid traumatic emergency admissions and time off school and participate freely in leisure activities.’

Schools wishing more information on the ‘Alert to Asthma’ scheme should phone 0131 226 2544, or email Asthma UK Scotland.