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Asthma and its attacks can pose serious risks to life.
The heartbreaking loss of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons serves as a powerful reminder of this reality.
Ryan was a lively boy who enjoyed motorbiking and exploring the woods, but a tragic error would soon claim his life.
In 2012, he experienced an asthma attack while at school.
He could have easily used his inhaler at the onset of the attack, but unfortunately, it had been taken away from him.
On October 9, Ryan, a seventh grader, went to school like any other day, but that day would end in tragedy.
While playing soccer, he suffered an asthma attack and was unable to access his emergency medication, which was secured in the school office.
In that critical moment, Ryan needed his inhaler to help him breathe.
However, the school’s policy required inhalers to be kept locked in the principal’s office, and Ryan’s spare inhalers had been confiscated multiple times.
His friends attempted to carry him to the office during the attack, but they couldn’t reach the inhaler in time.
Ryan lost consciousness and was never revived.
This tragedy unfolded at Elgin Country School in Ontario, Canada, leaving the entire nation in shock.
An investigation revealed that the school prohibited Ryan from keeping his inhaler with him, despite his mother’s repeated requests and a doctor’s note.
According to his mother, Sandra Gibbons, Ryan often brought an extra inhaler to school to circumvent this rule.
Asthma attacks can be unpredictable, making it dangerous to have inhalers locked away.
Yet, the school continued to confiscate Ryan’s extra inhaler.
Sandra mentioned that the school contacted her several times to retrieve an inhaler that Ryan had brought, but he was not permitted to take it home.
“You could give him an inhaler, but then he would get caught with it, and it would be taken away,” Sandra Gibbons told CBC.
I would often receive a phone call, which was incredibly frustrating. I couldn’t grasp the reason behind it. It wasn’t until later that I realized the policy required the prescribed medication to be kept in the office.
Fortunately, Ryan’s tragic passing served a purpose.
In the wake of Ryan’s death, his mother made a promise to do everything in her power to ensure that no other family would endure a similar experience.
After the funeral, Sandra Gibbons initiated a petition directed at the Ontario government, urging school boards to implement standardized asthma management plans. She also called on all three political parties to support a private member’s bill proposed by Progressive Conservative Jeff Yurek.
“When Ryan died, it felt like I lost everything that mattered to me,” Gibbons shared with Allergic Living. “After laying my son to rest, I realized this was a preventable situation. If people had the right training and knew how to recognize when a child was in distress, he would still be here today.”
Sandra aimed to change the regulations that prevent asthmatic children from carrying their essential medication.
Her determined efforts soon began to yield results.
Now known as Ryan’s Law, Bill 135 has successfully passed with support from all parties in the legislature.
This law mandates that schools permit children to keep their inhalers in their pockets or backpacks, provided they have a doctor’s note.
“I’m truly overwhelmed, filled with emotion, and incredibly happy that it’s going to be put into action,” expressed Sandra Gibbons.
The Asthma Society also celebrated the bill’s approval, with president Dr. Rob Oliphant stating, “It is crucial for children with asthma to have immediate access to potentially life-saving medications while at school.”
In the U.S., every state has laws allowing students to carry their asthma inhalers at all times.
However, some children still face barriers to accessing these vital medications during school hours, as many schools prohibit inhalers under broad anti-drug policies.
Asthma can be a deadly condition, with over 10 Americans losing their lives to it every day.
While the death rate has decreased over the last ten years, every asthma-related death is one that could have been avoided.
I’m truly saddened to hear about Ryan’s story. It’s so frustrating when people overlook the seriousness of this issue, and it really breaks my heart!
Despite the tragedy of Ryan’s experience, his story has played a crucial role in improving the lives of countless children suffering from asthma.
Thanks to his mother’s fight for justice, we can prevent more heartbreaking losses, and I’m grateful that lawmakers have enacted “Ryan’s Law.”
Let’s share this article to honor Ryan and raise awareness about the dangers faced by asthma patients who lack easy access to their inhalers.
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