Back-to-school time is tough for the one child in every 15 who faces the challenge of asthma. Myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes about children with asthma hurt them as much or more than the disease itself.
The problem is growing in schools; the asthma rate is rising more rapidly in preschool-aged children than in any other group. Asthma is the second most common cause of chronic illness in children, after chronic sinusitis.
As your family's and community's children return to school, please consider these questions, and related information resources from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:
1. Are you in a high-risk asthma area? You can find the 100 Health Service Areas with highest asthma mortality in the country at: http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/as_frameset.htm. (Click on "Resources", then, "Asthma Mortality Maps of the U.S. and Local Communities").
2. How can you help schools in your community become more
asthma-friendly?
a. Find out how asthma-friendly your schools are --
NAEPP's free downloadable seven-item questionnaire will help parents and school
staff determine how well their school accommodates children with asthma. It
will help identify potential sources of problems and provide guidance in making
school policies and practices more asthma-friendly. Get " How Asthma-Friendly
Is Your School?" at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/friendhi.htm.
b.
Help teachers and coaches help students with asthma. NAEPP's easy-to-read
booklet, "Asthma and Physical Activity in the School" (Pub No. 95-3651) is a
perfect companion for teachers and coaches who want to help students with
asthma participate in sports and physical activities -- The booklet covers the
causes of asthma, symptoms of an asthma attack, how to avoid and control asthma
triggers, how to help students who take medications, and how to modify
activities to match children's current asthma status. It also includes a
reproducible student asthma action card. Order it at:
http://emall.nhlbihin.net/product2.asp?sku=3651.
c.
Integrate asthma awareness into the school's curriculum -- NAEPP has developed,
"Asthma Awareness: Curriculum for the Elementary Classroom" (Pub No. 93-2894)
for use with elementary school children. These two 30-minute lessons are easily
integrated into a comprehensive health education curriculum and/or into science
as it relates to body systems and the environment. They can also be integrated
into social sciences as they relate to getting along with others and learning
about community resources. The lessons include suggestions for math, art, and
language arts activities. Order it at:
http://emall.nhlbihin.net/product2.asp?source=&sku=2894.
Please take a moment to share this information with the following people:
For more facts and statistics on asthma in America, point your browser to: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/asthstat.htm.
For these and other asthma related educational materials, visit NHLBI's Online Educational Materials Catalog at http://emall.nhlbihin.net, or call the NHLBI Information Center at (301) 592-8273.
Visit NHLBI's Online Catalog at http://emall.nhlbihin.net.
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