It’s back-to-school time, but while you parents out rushing around to stock up on shoes and spiral notebooks, it’s worth remembering some crucial steps to take for your child with asthma.

As asthma is the most common chronic childhood disorder in the U.S., the American Lung Association is reminding parents to map out an action plan if their child happens to be one of the 7 million under the age of 18 who has asthma.

Among the actions recommended by the American Lung Association:

Develop an Asthma Action Plan: Write down your child’s asthma symptoms, any medicines necessary before exercise and what to do in case an asthma episode is not relieved through medication.

Visit your child’s school nurse and teachers: Make sure they have a copy of the Asthma Action Plan and know what might trigger your child’s asthma.

Get a flu shot: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people get flu and H1N1 vaccines as early as September, or as soon as they’re available. Influenza can be particularly dangerous for kids with asthma, and yet less than half of all children with asthma receive the vaccine.

For the complete checklist, go to the American Lung Association’s website. It’s good information.