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Responding to Breathing Emergencies at School
Welcome to the Texas Online Training for Unassigned Respiratory Distress Medication
This module fulfills the online training component required by the state of Texas for school staff and volunteers without a medical license to give unassigned medication during breathing emergencies, such as asthma attacks. Asthma, a leading cause of breathing emergencies in children, affects more than 6 million children in the U.S. This module includes practical tools and resources to help improve outcomes for students with asthma. The module covers all topics mandated by state guidelines. Texas state requirements also include a hands-on training component.
You must know your school’s specific equipment, procedures, and standing delegation order. We recommend getting a copy of your district's policies and procedures on administering unassigned medication to refer to while completing this training. This will help you relate the information presented to your local setting.
Estimated Time to Complete: 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on your reading pace and use of optional resource materials. You do not need to complete the training in one session. The learning management system will automatically save your progress, allowing you to return and continue at your convenience.
Awarding Credit for Course Completion: You will have 3 attempts to pass the post-assessment with a score of 70% or better.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for personnel and volunteers in public or private schools who do not hold a health care professional licensure and would like training to give unassigned medication for respiratory distress as authorized under TEC Section, §38.208.
In addition to this online module, individuals must also complete supervised hands-on training within their school district and be knowledgeable of district policies and procedures pertinent to giving unassigned medication for respiratory distress and the appropriate follow-up.
Learning Objectives
After completing this training module, learners will be able to:
Recognize signs of respiratory distress.
List steps to give medication for respiratory distress.
Outline emergency protocols for respiratory distress and when 911 services should be initiated.
Apply best practices to follow up with parents or legal guardians and the primary healthcare provider for students with or without an asthma diagnosis.
Describe the importance of knowing state laws, liability protections, and your school’s policy for unassigned medication.
Define a standing delegation order (SDO) and the need to know your school’s SDO.
Discuss the role of Asthma Action Plans in keeping students safe.
Restate how to safely store and maintain the unassigned medications and devices for respiratory distress.
List the reports that are required after giving the medication.
Primary Contributor
Leslie Allsopp, MSN, MPH, PhD
Dr. Allsopp is the Asthma 411 Faculty Partner and Assistant Professor with SaferCare Texas at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. She has been a key member of the Asthma 411 team since the program's pilot dissemination to North Texas in 2013. She has played an instrumental role in the program's expansion and sustainment within ten Independent School Districts in and around Tarrant County. Allsopp’s work in public health began 30 years ago as a Peace Corps Volunteer with the Red Cross. Earlier professional experience includes being a family nurse practitioner providing primary health care services to diverse, low-resource, urban populations in various community-based settings, including school-based clinics.
Other Contributors
Paul Kloppe, RT
Asthma Supervisor, SA Kids BREATHE
City of San Antonio
Emily Stuart, MS, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer and Assistant Director, Educational Programs
Interprofessional Education and Practice, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Mandie Tibball Svatek, MD
Pediatric Hospitalist and Associate Professor
UT Health San Antonio, South Texas Asthma Coalition Chair
Special Thanks to our Reviewers
Juana Escobedo Bermudez, BSPH, CHW-I, CHES, Project Program Coordinator, SaferCare Texas, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Kathy Chism, MEd, experienced public school teacher and instructional coach
Jessica Herron, experienced public school paraprofessional
Yun Tran, MD, MPH, CPH, Family Medicine, John Peter Smith Health System and Acclaim Physician Group; Assistant Professor, Texas Christian University, Burnett School of Medicine, Chair, Asthma 411 Medical Advisory Council
Anita Wheeler, MSN, RN, School Nurse Consultant and retired School Health Coordinator, Wheeler Consulting Solutions
Instructional Design
Brenda Wilson, MS, CHCP, Senior Instructional Designer, and Donnell McKenzie, MEd, Program Manager
CE & Assessment Department, Division of Academic Innovation, University of Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Leslie Allsopp, PhD, MPH, MSN, AE-C
Leslie Allsopp, PhD, MPH, MSN, AE-C
Paul Kloppe, RRT AE-C
Emily Stuart, MS, LAT, ATC, PNAP
Mandie Svatek, Associate Professor, Pediatrics; Pediatric Hospitalist; MD
Accreditation Statements
In support of improving patient care, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing Education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is approved to offer continuing social work education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit.
Designation Statements
Certificate of Attendance
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth certifies this activity for 2.0 hours of participation credit. You will have 3 attempts to pass the post assessment with a score of 70% or better.
Available Credit
- 2.00 HSC Participation
Price
Required Hardware/software
Technical Requirements
This activity is best experienced using the most current browser (or one back) of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, or Microsoft Edge. For all activities featuring audio, you must have a sound card and speakers. To view graphic images and references that appear in separate "pop-up" windows, you must have JavaScript and session cookies enabled on your computer. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required for certain activities.