Asthma attacks can be life-threatening, as tragically shown by the death of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons.
In 2012, Ryan suffered a fatal asthma attack at school in Ontario, Canada. He couldn’t access his inhaler because school policy required it to be locked in the principal’s office. Despite his mother’s efforts and a doctor’s note, Ryan wasn’t allowed to carry one, and spare inhalers were often confiscated.
During the attack, friends tried to help him reach the office, but it was too late. Ryan passed out and never regained consciousness.
His mother, Sandra Gibbons, began advocating for change. She launched a petition and helped push for Ryan’s Law (Bill 135), which now allows students in Ontario to carry their inhalers with a doctor’s note.
Sandra said, “This was a preventable death. With the right training and access to medication, Ryan would still be here.”
The Asthma Society and health officials support the law. Although every U.S. state has similar laws, some schools still restrict access under zero-tolerance drug policies — a dangerous practice, as over 10 Americans die daily from asthma, most preventable.