American Association of School Administrators National School Boards Association

1. It Takes a Community: Helping Parents Create a Healthy, Safe Environment for Children with Asthma American Association of School Administrators National School Boards Association

2. Why? • Nearly three children in every classroom of 30 has asthma. • If uncontrolled, asthma can be very disruptive to a child’s school experience; at worst, it can be fatal. • With proper management, a child’s asthma can be controlled. • Creating an asthma-friendly environment benefits everyone.

3. What is Asthma? • Asthma is a chronic (ongoing, long-term) disease that narrows the passageways to the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. • Children with asthma always have it, but they only have trouble breathing when something bothers their lungs. These are known as “triggers.” • Each person’s asthma is unique. Triggers and symptoms differ for each person. • An asthma attack is when asthma symptoms get out of control.

4. When asthma is present, the lungs show three primary changes : Swelling of the lining of the airways, Tightening of the muscle bands around the airways, and Excess mucus production, making it difficult to breathe. Normal lung tissue Lung tissue with asthma

5. Symptoms of Asthma A child may experience one or all of these symptoms: • Wheezing • Coughing • Shortness of breath • Rapid breathing • Difficulty talking • Tightness in the chest

6. Asthma Medications There are two types of medications to help manage asthma: • Quick Relief Medications • Taken immediately at the first sign of symptoms • Should be easily available to the child at all times • Controller Medications • Preventive only; does not provide relief during an asthma attack • Usually taken at home

7. Spacer and Valved Holding Chamber • Used with quick relief medications. • Helps medication reach deeper into the lungs. Peak Flow Meter • Measures air output. • Can show signs of symptoms before a child feels them. Medical Devices that Help Manage Asthma

8. Asthma can be controlled, but not cured. Here’s what parents can do.

9. Action Steps • Complete and Maintain Asthma Action Plans • Reduce Asthma Triggers • Manage Medications and Master Techniques • Encourage Opportunities for Physical Activity • Establish and Maintain Good Communication with School and Community • Provide and/or Take Advantage of Asthma Education

10. Action Step #1: Asthma Action Plans An Asthma Action plan has all the important information about a child’s asthma in one place. Written by a health practitioner, it includes: • A child’s specific asthma triggers • Which medications a child takes and when to take them • What to do if symptoms get worse • When to call 911

11. Asthma Action Plans – cont. • An updated asthma action plan should be completed every school year and revised at each doctor visit. • Provide a copy to the: • School nurse and other school personnel; • Out-of-school providers; • Anyone responsible for the child’s care.

12. Action #2 - Reduce Asthma Triggers Triggers are different for every child with asthma and may include: • Pets with fur or feathers • Cockroaches • Dust mites • Pollen • Mold • Physical activity • Colds and flu • Smoke • Extreme cold, heat or humidity • Perfume • Cleaning products and air fresheners

13. Action #2 - Reduce Asthma Triggers Take steps to reduce exposure to triggers. Ensure children with asthma have: • A smoke-free environment • Pets without dander such as fish • A dust-free and mold-free environment, cleaned with appropriate cleansers • Ensure A/C and ventilation systems are free of air pollutants • No bus or car idling policies • Access to medications before and after exercise, if in the Asthma Action Plan

14. Action #3 -- Manage Asthma Medications • Quick relief medications should be easily available to a child at all times. • Self-carry for students who meet school district’s criteria • Back-up emergency medication plan for students allowed to self-administer medication • Parents obtain at least 3 sets of medications/devices (for home, school, out-of-school activity) • Schools may be a resource to parents in exploring insurance options to cover medication costs.

15. Action # 4 -- Encourage Opportunities For Physical Activity Regular exercise is important for all children, including those with asthma. • Children with asthma, coaches, teachers, and out of school providers should know how to manage asthma when a child is physically active. • Medications and individual children’s asthma action plans should be easily accessible.

16. Action # 5 -- Establish and Maintain Good Communication • Discuss the child’s asthma with school staff and out-of-school caregivers. • Make sure the child understands his/her medications and is able to communicate their needs • Inform school and caregivers of absences due to asthma.

17. Action #6 -- Provide or Take Advantage of Asthma Education • Review and assess policies to see if they are asthma friendly. • Attend training, and obtain and share information about asthma with school personnel. • Make sure that the school and district provide asthma management and emergency training to all staff. • Review the health curriculum to see if it provides information on asthma and asthma management for students.

18. NATIONAL RESOURCES • Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics • American Association of School Administrators • American Lung Association • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • Environmental Protection Agency • National Asthma Education an Prevention Program/NIH • National Association of School Nurses • National PTA • National School Boards Association LOCAL RESOURCES Resources

19. Guide for Families, Schools, and Communities Available on-line at Http://www.aasa.org and at http://www.nsba.org

20. THANK YOU!! This presentation was developed by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). AASA is the membership organization for local school system leaders across the country. NSBA represents state associations of school boards and their member districts. This presentation was developed under a cooperative agreement with the Division of Adolescent and School Health of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant number U58/DP 000398-04. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.