November and December are busy months for Indian schools. There are annual sports days, picnics, heritage walks, science fairs and overnight trips to hill stations. For a child with asthma, these days bring extra excitement and extra unknowns: new places, more running, dust, smoke from a campfire and long hours away from home.
The good news is that most children with asthma can take part fully with a bit of planning. This checklist helps parents and caregivers prepare, hand over the right information to teachers, and make sure everyone knows what to do if symptoms appear.
This article is general education, not medical advice. Please talk to your child’s doctor about their symptoms and treatment, and never start, stop or change any asthma medicine based on a blog post. If your child is struggling to breathe, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Two weeks before: talk to the doctor and the school
Check in with your child’s doctor
If your child’s asthma has been unsettled, or the trip involves something new such as high altitude, camping or a long journey, a quick review helps. You might ask:
- Is my child’s asthma well controlled right now?
- Does their written action plan need updating?
- Is there anything specific to know for exercise, cold weather or altitude?
- Should they carry a spare reliever and spacer?
If you do not yet have a written plan, ask the doctor to help you make one. The free Asthma Friend Action Plan Generator can help you prepare a draft to take to the appointment.
Ask the school some questions
- Who is the teacher in charge, and how can I reach them during the trip?
- Will there be a nurse or first-aid trained adult?
- Where will the group be, and how far is the nearest hospital?
- What activities are planned, and are there indoor options if the air is poor?
- How will medicines be stored and who can access them quickly?
Packing checklist for trips and picnics
Pack a small, clearly labelled asthma pouch that stays with your child or the responsible teacher at all times.
- Reliever inhaler, checked for expiry and enough doses left.
- Spacer, clean and dry.
- Any daily controller medicine for overnight trips, with clear instructions as prescribed.
- A copy of the written asthma action plan.
- An emergency card with your child’s name, condition, medicines, your phone numbers and the doctor’s number.
- A well-fitting mask if your child’s doctor has suggested one for dusty or smoky places.
- Water bottle and a warm layer for cold mornings and evenings.
- Tissues and hand sanitiser.
Avoid packing the reliever in the main luggage on a bus or train. It should be within easy reach. Our guide to preparing an asthma friendly school bag has more ideas you can adapt.
The teacher handover: what to share
Teachers are responsible for many children on a trip. A short, clear handover makes it easier for them to help your child.
Include:
- Your child has asthma, and which symptoms to watch for.
- Where the reliever and spacer are, and that your child may use them as per the plan.
- What the action plan says to do if symptoms start.
- Known triggers, such as dust, smoke, cold air, pollen or animals.
- Who to call, and that in an emergency they should call 112.
Keep it to one page. Highlight the most important lines. Ask the teacher if they have any questions.
Sports day: helping your child take part safely
Exercise is good for children with asthma. Many children do well with the right preparation.
Before the day
- Practise at home or in the park in the weeks before, so your child is not doing hard running for the first time on the day.
- Talk to the PE teacher about warm-ups and rest breaks.
- If your child often gets symptoms with exercise, ask their doctor what their plan should say for sports days. Our guide to exercise-induced asthma explains this in more detail.
On the day
- Check the AQI in the morning. On very poor air days, ask whether events can be moved indoors or shortened.
- Make sure the reliever is with the teacher or in your child’s kit, not left in the classroom.
- Encourage a gentle warm-up.
- Remind your child it is okay to stop if they feel tight or very breathless, even in the middle of a race.
- Keep water handy.
After the event
- Watch for coughing or wheezing later in the day or at night.
- Praise effort, not just results.
Special situations on school trips
Hill stations and altitude
Cold, thin air at higher places can affect some children with asthma. Pack warm layers and ask the doctor about any extra precautions. Our article on high-altitude breathing challenges with asthma explains what to expect.
Campfires and bonfires
Smoke is a common trigger. Ask teachers to let your child sit upwind and some distance from the fire, or skip it if they start coughing.
Dusty sites, farms and zoos
Heritage sites, farms, stables and zoos can have dust, hay and animal dander. Let teachers know if animals or hay are known triggers.
Long bus journeys
Diesel fumes, closed windows with smokers nearby, strong air fresheners and travel sickness can all add up. A seat near the front with fresher air, and the reliever within reach, can help.
Emergency steps everyone should know
Share these with the teacher in charge:
- Follow the child’s written asthma action plan.
- Help the child sit upright, stay calm and use their reliever as per the plan.
- Do not leave the child alone.
- Call 112 if the child has trouble speaking, lips look blue or grey, the reliever is not helping, or they seem drowsy or confused.
- Inform the parents as soon as possible.
For a fuller kit list at home, see our guide to creating an asthma emergency kit.
Helping your child feel confident, not different
Some children feel embarrassed using an inhaler in front of classmates. You can help by:
- Practising using the inhaler and spacer quickly and calmly.
- Reminding them that many athletes and adults live with asthma.
- Agreeing on a simple signal they can give the teacher if they feel unwell.
- Letting them help pack their own asthma pouch.
Siddhant’s POV: Planning so children can join in
I have lived with asthma for more than 30 years. My breathing improved after I moved from Delhi NCR to Dehradun.
My view is that good preparation should help a child participate, not mark them out as a problem. I would encourage parents and teachers to agree who holds the action plan, how prescribed inhalers remain accessible and what happens if symptoms begin. For trips and sports days, I believe a calm conversation before departure is more helpful than vague reassurance at the school gate.
Siddhant Jain, founder of Asthma Friend, has lived with asthma for more than 30 years.
Conclusion
School trips and sports days are part of growing up, and children with asthma deserve to enjoy them as much as anyone. A doctor check-in, a clear action plan, a well-packed asthma pouch and a simple teacher handover go a long way. On sports days, think about warm-ups, rest and air quality. On trips, plan for smoke, dust, cold and long journeys. Make sure every adult involved knows the emergency steps, including calling 112. With good preparation, your child can come home tired, happy and full of stories.
Take the next step with Asthma Friend
- Join our community: Connect with people who understand life with asthma at Asthma Friend.
- Learn through play: Explore free educational games at Asthma Friend Games.
- Create your free asthma action plan: Use the Asthma Friend Action Plan Generator and keep a copy handy through the festive season.
Frequently asked questions
Many children with well-controlled asthma can. Check with your child’s doctor, update the action plan, pack medicines carefully and give the teacher a clear handover before the trip.
Agree this with the school. Older children often carry their own reliever, while younger children’s inhalers may stay with a teacher. Either way, it must be quickly reachable at all times.
Many children with asthma enjoy sports day. Ask your child’s doctor what their plan should say about exercise, and make sure your child knows they can stop and rest if they feel unwell.
Share your child’s triggers, symptoms to watch for, where the reliever is, what the action plan says, your contact numbers and that they should call 112 in an emergency.
Smoke is a common trigger. Ask teachers to seat your child upwind and away from the fire, and to let them move away if they start coughing.
Cold, thin air can affect some children. Discuss the trip with your child’s doctor beforehand and pack warm layers and the reliever.
Last reviewed: 8 November 2026
Information on this page was written against widely published guidance from national and international respiratory health bodies. It is educational only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice from a doctor.
About the author
Siddhant Jain
Siddhant Jain is the founder of Asthma Friend. He has lived with asthma for more than 30 years. After moving from Delhi NCR to Dehradun, his breathing improved, and he built Asthma Friend to give Indian patients and caregivers practical, empathetic education. The content is educational and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor.
