Asthma can be fatal: Remembering Ryan Gibbons

The tragic death of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons highlights the life-threatening potential of asthma attacks. In 2012, Ryan suffered an asthma attack at school while playing soccer, but his inhaler was locked in the principal’s office due to school policy.
Despite efforts from his mother and a doctor’s note, the school repeatedly confiscated his spare inhalers. Ryan’s friends tried to get him to the office, but he passed out and could not be revived. His death led his mother, Sandra Gibbons, to campaign for change. She started a petition, leading to the passage of Ryan’s Law (Bill 135), which mandates that schools allow children with asthma to carry their inhalers.
The law has been widely praised, and the Asthma Society emphasized the importance of easy access to asthma medication. Despite improvements, some students still face barriers to accessing life-saving treatments in schools.

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