Every health condition, including asthma, has the potential to turn tragic. The profound loss of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons is a stark reminder of this harsh reality.
Ryan was an energetic youngster who relished riding dirt bikes and exploring the wilderness. Tragically, his life was cut short by a crucial mistake.
Back in 2012, Ryan suffered a severe asthma attack at school. In the crucial moments needed to prevent tragedy, he could not access his inhaler, which had been unjustly taken from him.
On the morning of October 9, Ryan Gibbons, a spirited seventh grader, attended his classes as usual. Yet, it would be the last time he walked through those school doors.
While engaged in a game of soccer during school hours, Ryan was suddenly gripped by an asthma attack. His essential rescue inhaler was locked away in the school office, out of reach at a critical moment.
With his airways constricted, Ryan desperately needed his inhaler to breathe easier. Nevertheless, due to the school’s policy, spare inhalers were often confiscated to be kept in the principal’s office, unavailable when truly needed.
During these critical moments, Ryan’s friends did their best to help, attempting to carry him to the office. Tragically, they could not reach the inhaler in time, resulting in Ryan losing consciousness and never recovering.
The entire country of Canada was deeply affected by the tragic events at Elgin County School in Ontario.
Investigations showed that even after his mother repeatedly advocated for him to carry his inhaler, supported by a doctor’s note, the school refused to let Ryan keep it with him.
As a result, Ryan’s mother, Sandra Gibbons, shared that he resorted to sneaking an extra inhaler into school to bypass these restrictive regulations.
Locking an inhaler away in a room can have dire consequences, especially since asthma attacks can happen without warning. Despite this, Ryan’s extra inhalers were continuously taken by school staff.
His mother recalled numerous instances when the school contacted her to retrieve an inhaler that Ryan had managed to bring to class.
Sandra Gibbons recounted to CBC, “They would allow him an inhaler, but once he got caught with it, it would be confiscated.”
Determined to prevent future tragedies, Sandra Gibbons initiated a campaign advocating for a uniform asthma management plan across Ontario schools. This involved Rallying support from all three political parties to back a private member’s bill, proposed by Progressive Conservative Jeff Yurek.
This effort led to the creation of “Ryan’s Law,” or Bill 135, which mandates that schools must permit students to carry their inhalers in their pockets or backpacks, given the verification of a doctor’s note. The Asthma Society celebrated this legal advance, citing its importance in ensuring that children with asthma have immediate access to life-saving medication while at school. Asthma remains a heavily concerning health issue, claiming the lives of over ten Americans each day due to fatal attacks.
