The tragic death of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers asthma poses, especially during an attack. In 2012, Ryan, an energetic boy who loved motorbikes and hiking, suffered an asthma attack at school. Although he needed his inhaler, it was locked in the school office due to a policy that prohibited him from carrying it. Despite his mother’s repeated efforts to ensure he had access to his medication, Ryan’s spare inhaler was often confiscated. During the attack, his friends tried to help him get to the inhaler, but they couldn’t reach it in time, and Ryan passed away.

This devastating event led Ryan’s mother, Sandra Gibbons, to fight for change. She launched a petition for standardized asthma management plans in schools and advocated for a law allowing children to carry their inhalers. Her efforts culminated in the passing of “Ryan’s Law” (Bill 135), which requires schools to permit students to carry their inhalers with a doctor’s note. The law has been praised by the Asthma Society and is a step toward preventing future tragedies.

Ryan’s death highlights the critical importance of timely access to life-saving medication. While asthma deaths have declined, they remain a serious issue, and laws like Ryan’s Law help ensure that no child has to face a fatal asthma attack without immediate access to their inhaler.