• emergency phone numbers and locations of emergency care facilities
• a list of triggers and how to avoid them
• steps your child should take before exercising
• a list of early flare-up symptoms to watch for and what to do when they occur
• the names and dosages of all your child's medications and when and how they should be used

It's valuable to have all of this information in one place so that you - as well as your child's teachers, relatives, and caregivers - can respond properly, even in stressful situations.

Putting the Plan to Good Use

Your child's action plan will be most effective if you make yourself familiar with it before your child has a flare-up. Follow the advice within it to avoid flare-ups. Familiarize your child with the plan and offer to answer any questions. Older kids should know which steps they can take themselves and when they should seek help.

Your child's action plan should also go everywhere your child goes. Keep a copy at home in a well-known spot and give one to the school nurse, teachers, or anyone else who cares for your child. Offer to discuss the plan, so your child's caregivers won't be hesitant about doing what it says to do.

In addition, your child's plan will need occasional changes as the dosages for his or her medicines change. You should review the plan with your child's doctor at least every 6 months or more frequently if symptoms seem to occur more often than they used to. The plan might also need to be updated if your child doesn't seem to require his or her rescue medications as often. Any time your child's action plan is changed, you should provide new copies to anyone who has one.