TORONTO – Asthma advocates believe Ontario is set to become the first province in which children can legally carry their inhalers with them at school.
A bill known as Ryan’s Law, named for a 12-year-old boy who died after suffering an asthma attack during recess at his Straffordville school, southeast of London, is set for a vote in the Ontario legislature today.
Ryan Gibbons’ school did not allow him to keep his inhaler with him, instead keeping it locked in the office because it was prescribed medication.
Ryan’s Law will require every school to allow a student who has asthma to carry their medication with permission from their parent or guardian and doctor.
Rob Oliphant with the Asthma Society of Canada says school boards across Ontario had a patchwork of policies on inhalers and though some provinces have policies similar to Ryan’s Law, he believes Ontario will be the first to make that into law.
George Habib with the Lung Association says because asthma is so common, people can forget just how dangerous it can be.
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