Asthma at tac ks can be life-threatening, as shown by the tragic death of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons in 2012. Ryan died when his inhaler, locked in the principal’s office due to school policy, was inaccessible during an attack. Despite his mother’s requests and a doctor’s note,
the school confiscated his inhalers. This preventable tragedy led to the passage of “Ryan’s Law” in Ontario, requiring schools to allow students to carry inhalers. While U.S. states permit inhalers, restrictive school policies still put lives at risk. Ryan’s story highlights the importance of immediate access to life-saving asthma medication.
