This article was originally published in the State of Our Children 360 newsletter, a publication from the Guilds Center for Community Health that shares some of the most pressing issues facing kids through the lens of those who are involved, impacted or providing care. Marisela Sanchez is the Assistant Director of the Health, Safety, and Wellness Department in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District in Bakersfield and a credentialed school nurse.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – As a school nurse leader in Bakersfield, I have seen firsthand how asthma continues to be one of the most common and preventable reasons students miss school, largely due to misconceptions.
As school nurses, we want our families to know that each absence represents more than just a missed lesson; it’s a lost opportunity for growth, connection and building our students’ self-confidence. By working proactively with community providers, we aim to prevent asthma-related absences for our families.
A critical tip we’d like to share with families for strong control of their asthma is the use of spacers or aerochambers, no matter what age. Without them, inhalers don’t deliver the necessary dose deep into the lungs where it is needed the most. When medication isn’t reaching the lungs effectively, our students appear “uncontrolled” and end up sitting out or going home.
The solution may involve the consistent use of a spacer, with maintenance medication provided at home and rescue medication available at school. Our school nurses invest critical time in teaching students correct inhaler techniques and proper spacer use as we believe it can be the difference between missing class and mastering their control.
Another hidden complexity in absences is the absence of physical activity. Too often, students with asthma believe they “can’t” participate in physical education or exercise. But avoiding it all together isn’t the answer. Physical activity and exercise are essential parts of asthma management when symptoms are well controlled.
We want our families to know that while physical activity strengthens lung capacity and reduces stress, it’s also connected to better academic achievement and stronger emotional regulation skills. This directly impacts a student’s overall classroom success. Helping our students with access proper asthma care and participating safely in physical activity is more than fitness; it’s about nurturing the whole child. The goal isn’t to sit out at home until they are better – it’s to stay in school, stay active and stay healthy with proper collaboration between the families, providers and school nursing staff.
School nurses work hard not just managing asthma during the school day – but also by teaching students how to manage it themselves. This confidence carries beyond the classroom, and while spacers can seem like an extra step, they are an important tool that help keep students in class and participating fully.
For more insight from the experts surrounding the impact of asthma on children’s health, check out the January 2026 State of Our Children 360 newsletter.
