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Asthma

Asthma. Keeping our Student’s Safe. Content. What Asthma Is and Isn’t What Happens Asthma Treatment Management Strategies Role of the School Nurse. Asthma Is Not. Infectious Contagious. ASTHMA.

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Asthma

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  1. Asthma • Keeping our Student’s Safe

  2. Content • What Asthma Is and Isn’t • What Happens • Asthma Treatment • Management Strategies • Role of the School Nurse

  3. Asthma Is Not • Infectious • Contagious

  4. ASTHMA • Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. • Wikipedia

  5. Common Asthma Triggers • Exercise • Cold Air • Smoke/pollution • Allergens such as pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, molds, and pollen • Colds, viruses, and various respiratory infections • Medicines/chemicals • Coughing, yelling, and laughing • Acute stress

  6. Asthmatic Response to Triggers • BRONCHOSPASM • Windpipe muscles tighten • INFLAMMATION • Windpipe lining swells • Mucus forms in the windpipe

  7. Asthma Onset Symptoms • Restlessness • Irritability • Cough • Wheezing • Shortness of Breath • Tightness in the Chest

  8. Asthma Treatment • BRONCHODILATORS • Quick Relief or “rescue” medication • Ventolin • Proventil • Maxair • Albuterol • Taken 15 or 20 minutes ahead of time, these medications can prevent symptoms triggered by exercise or exposure to cold

  9. ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES/STERIODS • Reduce swelling and mucous production in the airways • Advair • Azmacort • Flovent • Pulmicort

  10. SPACERS FOR INHALER USE

  11. DON’T SHARE INHALERS

  12. Asthma Management • Know the “triggers” that initiate an episode • Avoid known “triggers” • Use of peak flow meter to monitor status • Recognize the symptoms of an episode onset • Have medications immediately available • Allow adequate time for recovery

  13. EXERCISE – ONE OF THE MOST COMMON TRIGGERS • ANYONE who has asthma has the potential for exercise induced asthma (EIA) • EIA symptoms are likely to be intense for 5 to 10 minutes and will usually resolve in 15-30 minutes • ANY recess, physical education class, or extra-curricular sport activity has EIA potential

  14. Contributing Factors • Air Temperature and Humidity • Wind, Dust, and Pollen Counts • Air Pollution • Health Status • January 11th 2010 Air Quality Index for • Salt Lake City 142 • San Francisco 67 • Las Vegas 23 • www.airquality.utah.gov

  15. Exercise Management • Know students at risk for exercise induced asthma • Promote student responsibility for self-care • Encourage premedication as appropriate • Encourage warm up/cool down exercises

  16. Exercise Management • Be alert for symptom onset • Have asthma management and emergency plans • Report any respiratory concerns

  17. Staff Cooperation • Everyone’s cooperation is essential • Physical education teachers, coaches, and playground supervisors have a special responsibility • Encourage student responsibility for self and others • Be prepared for emergencies • Know the students • Know yourself • Know CPR

  18. Episode Management • Never leave a child alone !!! • Call for help • Help student use his/her medication • Assist in tripod position to maximize respiratory function • Provide a calm, reassuring atmosphere • Tripod position: refer to picture.

  19. Role of the School Nurse • Provide “Health Care Plans” for those students that have asthma • Provide asthma education programs for teachers and students • Audit medication administration procedures

  20. Medication Administration • Parent’s need to sign a form authorizing staff to administer medication • “Authorization of School Personnel to Administer Medication” • Staff administering medications need to track medication use on a “Daily Medication Tracking Form” • If the child is responsible they can carry their inhaler. Parent’s need to sign an authorization form for the student to carry medication. “Self Medication Self-Administration Form” • Do NOT accept medication if it is not labeled with a Rx label from the pharmacy. This includes over-the-counter medications. • Medication is stored in a locked cabinet or container

  21. THE END Your School Nurse Suzanne Tanner RN, RDH 101 East 200 North Heber City, Utah 84032 435-654-0280 ext. 4144 435-654-8289 cell suzanne.tanner@wasatch.edu

  22. References • Reilly, D. (2000). Managing Asthma Triggers Training Manual. National Association of School Nurses. • Utah Department of Health (November 2010). Asthma and Air Pollution: Associations Between Asthma Emergency Department Visits, PM 2.5 Levels, and Temperature Inversions in Utah.

  23. For more information visit these WEB SITES • www.health.utah.gov/asthma • www.winningwithasthma.org • www.airquality.utah.gov • www.health.utah.gov/asthma/air%20quality/pm25.html - information on recess guidelines.

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