Written for Mediaplanet’s 2014 Asthma and Allergies campaign which appeared in the Toronto Star.
Appeared in print and online on June 28, 2014.
They say it takes a village to raise a child and according to health experts, when it comes to keeping children safe in school, the same logic applies.
“The wellbeing of our students within the school system is a shared responsibility,” says Chris Markham, the CEO of the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association.
This team-based approach is particularly important for children who suffer from asthma or severe allergies—which, if not managed properly, can be fatal.
Both chronic conditions are prevalent among young Canadians. According to Anaphylaxis Canada, approximately 300,000 Canadian children have identified food allergies. Asthma—which can be connected to allergies or an independent condition—affects an estimated 8.5 per cent of Canadians over the age of 12 and is a major cause of hospitalization of children.
Ishani Nath 