From SanoLabs, the makers of the Sam app
The nursery gave the reliever. What to write down.
When the nursery or school gave the reliever, a short note at pickup is what you bring to the paediatrician: when, how many puffs, whether it helped and what came before. The doctor makes sense of it.
What does the agreement with the nursery usually cover?
Parents are responsible for their child's medicine, and a setting gives it only as agreed with you, so it is agreed in advance and in writing. What follows is the usual outline, not legal advice, and rules differ by country and provider.
- The doctor's written instructionThe medicine, dose, timing, storage and emergency steps come from your child's doctor. You do not write them, and neither does an app.
- Your written consentYou agree in writing that the setting gives the medicine as the doctor instructed.
- Contact detailsThe treating practice and your own numbers, so someone can be reached.
- The asthma action planYour child's doctor or asthma nurse fills it in. Asthma + Lung UK has a guide to what to share with a school or nursery.
- How you will be toldAgree it at the start: a call, a note or a word at pickup. See the next section.
How do I find out when the reliever was used?
You can ask How will you let me know if my child needed the reliever: a call, a note in the book, or at pickup?
You agree a route together. Settings keep their own record; how they tell you is part of what you agree.
You can ask Could you tell me how many puffs it was and whether it helped?
You ask kindly and write down what you are told.
You can ask Does cover staff know where the action plan is kept?
Nursery, childminder and grandparents each see a different part of the day.
What do I write down at pickup?
Note what you were told and what you see yourself, not what you suspect. What the notes mean is for the paediatrician. A note on the fridge or in your phone is enough.
- Date and timeWhen it was, as the setting tells you.
- Puffs and effectHow many puffs they report and whether your child was better afterwards.
- What came beforeFor example running, a cold, animals, smoke or dust.
- Who told youWho at the setting told you, so you can follow up.
- That evening and nightDid your child cough or wake up?
- What your child saysTheir own words, ideally with the date.
What about school?
The same note habit helps. Rules differ by country and school type, so this describes the route, not a rule.
- Involve the school earlyTalk to the head teacher or the school's medical-conditions lead about the plan and agree it in writing.
- Depending on ageOlder children often carry their own reliever. You agree that with the doctor and the school.
- Home-school book or callAgree how the school tells you. Otherwise you may only hear about an incident in PE from your child.
When do I call the practice?
If the nursery tells you the reliever was needed more often than before, that is a reason to get in touch. Call the practice and bring your notes. The number that counts for your child is the paediatrician's to name.
The asthma action plan belongs at every appointment. If you are unsure about it, the practice is the one to ask.
Bring to the appointment: your dated notes, a copy of the agreement with the nursery and of the action plan, the medication list, the inhaler and spacer, and your questions.
Sam and your child
What the nursery reports, kept on your side
The nursery's records stay with the nursery. What you are told, you note down yourself. The asthma program in Sam lives on the phone of the person it is about. If your child has their own phone, they keep their program there.
- Entries for reliever and attacksReliever use with puffs and whether it helped, attacks, waking at night, triggers and sick days.
- Pollen values on the entrySam adds the day's pollen values to entries. Numbers only, no interpretation.
- Doctor report as a PDFThe report sums up entries for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, or the whole record, for the paediatrician.
- Share with familyThe person the program is about shares selected details through Friends and Family. Each parent sees what is shared with them. Nobody but them can add entries or create a report through it.
Logged attacks2
Reliever-use days3
Nights woken by symptoms1
A summary of your own entries. Your doctor interprets it.
A calmer way to the paediatrician
Instead ofGuessing from memory how often the reliever was needed last month
In SamEntries with date, puffs and effect on your sheet.
Instead ofOne sentence at the nursery door, forgotten by evening
In SamA short note on the day, with what you were told.
Instead ofSlips of paper and phone notes, scattered
In SamOne sheet for the appointment, in date order.
Sam records what is entered; it does not detect or report attacks, and the assessment is up to your child's doctor.
Questions parents ask
EmergencyWhen should I get help right away?+
This is general safety information, not a diagnosis.
- In an emergency or if you are unsure, call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US). For medical advice that is not urgent, call your doctor or local out-of-hours service.
If your child's doctor gave you a written emergency plan, follow it. This is not a diagnosis.
Does my child's nursery have to give the inhaler?+
It depends on the country and the setting. In England, a nursery may give medicine only with your written permission, and schools follow statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions. Ask the setting early what it needs from you and your child's doctor.
Does the nursery have to tell me when the reliever was used?+
Asthma + Lung UK says schools should tell parents when a child uses their inhaler. In England, the early years framework says nurseries must keep a written record each time a medicine is given and tell parents the same day or as soon as reasonably practicable. Elsewhere, ask at the start how you will be told.
Can I ask how many puffs it was?+
Yes, ask kindly. You write down what the setting tells you.
Does the nursery see my entries in Sam?+
No. Sam is not a channel to the nursery. The setting keeps its own records, and Sam does not replace them. Who sees what is in a program is set by the person it belongs to, through Friends and Family.
Can the other parent see it?+
Only what the person the program is about shares through Friends and Family. The other parent cannot add entries or create the PDF report through it. For a young child, the parent the nursery reports to notes it down and passes the sheet on.
How do I note whether my child coughed at night after a nursery day?+
In the morning, write down whether your child coughed or woke up, with the date. What the notes mean is for your child's doctor.
Does Sam notice when my child has an attack?+
No. Sam does not detect attacks, predict them or send alerts. Sam records what is entered.
Who can help if I am unsure about the action plan?+
Your child's doctor or asthma nurse. The action plan belongs at every appointment.
Go to the paediatrician with notes, not gaps
Sam keeps entries on reliever use, nights and sick days and sums them up as a doctor report.
Sam is a wellness companion, not a medical device. Sam does not detect asthma attacks, does not diagnose or treat anything and does not replace a doctor. For acute symptoms call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US).