School-Based Asthma Education
Asthma 101
Effective management of asthma at school can help promote a supportive learning environment. Asthma management may reduce disruption in the classroom, provide necessary support in an emergency, and encourage students to actively participate in all school activities. The Asthma 101 in-service program was developed to address these issues.
Asthma 101 is a one-hour educational program presented by trained health care professionals to school personnel providing information on:
- The prevalence of asthma
- Basic signs and symptoms of asthma
- Common triggers found in the school environment
- Basic management of an acute asthma episode
- Asthma medications and delivery devices
- Asthma management and monitoring tools
For more information, please call our office at (602) 258-7505
Open Airways for Schools
Open Airways for Schools is an award-winning program designed to help elementary school children manage their asthma. This innovative program has been a documented success in thousands of elementary schools across the country, including right here in Arizona.
Open Airways for Schools uses an interactive teaching approach to promote the kids' involvement in the program. During six, 40-minute lessons facilitated by school staff or trained ALAA volunteers, the kids take part in group discussions, stories, games, and role-playing. Program components include:
- An illustrated curriculum with an accompanying script to guide instructors through the lessons;
- An instructor's guide with tips on how to optimize the kids' learning experience throughout the program;
- A poster flip chart featuring color posters keyed to each lesson; and
- Reproducible handouts for children and parents.
If you are interested in bringing Open Airways for Schools into your school, please download the Open Airways for Schools interest form and return it to the American Lung Association. If you have further questions, please call our office at (602) 258-7505.
Back To School With Asthma: What Can Parents Do?
Asthma management:
See your child’s doctor.
If your child is due for a check-up with his or her physician,
make sure that happens before school begins!
Know your child’s triggers.
Be aware of what may be triggering asthma attacks, and work to
keep him away from those allergens and triggers. Asthma triggers
may include: exercise, smoke, pollen, dust, air pollution, animal
fur, colds, flu and other respiratory infections.
Understand your child’s asthma control.
Keep track of nighttime coughing and/or waking, which may
mean that asthma is not being well controlled, as well as actual
asthma attacks. Work with your physician to be sure asthma is
under control before school starts, which may decrease the
chances of it worsening at the beginning of the year.
Have a written Asthma Action Plan.
Work with your child’s physician to complete a plan, which should include individualized information about your child’s asthma
symptoms, daily medications, rescue inhaler or nebulizer treatments,
any physical activity limitations or need for inhaler before
strenuous activities, and specific instructions about what to
do and whom to call if an asthma attack does not improve with
medication. A free Asthma Action Plan form is available online
at www.lungusa.org, or call 1-800-LUNG-USA for a copy.
Schedule flu shots.
Talk to your child’s physician now about getting immunized
against influenza in September or October. Preventing influenza
may lessen asthma episodes and trips to the ER. Flu shots for
people with asthma have been proven safe through research conducted
by the American Lung Association.
School support & communications:
Share and discuss the Asthma Action Plan.
Give a copy of the written plan with your school nurse or other health staff,
as well as the classroom teacher, physical
education teacher and school
coach(es). Take time to talk to the
nurse and teachers about your child’s
triggers, typical symptoms, medications,
etc. Communication is key to
preparing the adults responsible for
your child at school!
Be aware of indoor & outdoor air
pollution as triggers.
Help teachers and staff understand how indoor air can impact people with asthma. Identify your child’s particular environmental
triggers and work toward
minimizing your child’s exposure
to them at school. Be sure your
school administration has a plan to
minimize children’s exposure to smog and particle pollution according
to the local Air Quality Index report; daily information
and health advisories are available at www.epa.gov/airnow.
Identify how to make your school “asthma-friendly.”
The American Lung Association’s comprehensive asthma management
program for schools includes a baseline school questionnaire
that can help guide parents, as well as staff, to understand
all elements of the school systems that can impact children
with asthma. The free “How Asthma Friendly Is Your School?” is available at www.lungusa.org.
Ask School Administrators to Review the
Powerful Practices.
This checklist, intended primarily for school administrators, helps districts identify areas in which it is currently doing well, as well as areas in which it may want to focus more energy on its asthma
management policies. The free checklist is available at
www.aasa.org/focus.
