As I toil away in the heat cleaning my garage I am trying to pretend school is NOT just around the corner. I love not setting an alarm clock and waking up sometime after the sun rises. This is a beautiful thing.
Nevertheless, Back-to-School time is here and us asthma and food allergy types need a jump-start!
If you only do one thing and take only one step to keep your child’s asthma under control during the school year, then print out this flyer and get it into the hands of your school principal and nurse ASAP! Food allergy types, I will begin posting about getting back into the school and food allergy groove this week!
Print this: Asthma Management Tools for School Nurses
Disclaimer: I am seriously biased as I adore and volunteer my time with The American Lung Association. I’ve seen their programs work first hand…as a client and as an Open Airways For Schools Instructor. The empowered, asthma educated child is the one who misses less school, stays healthy and develops coping skills far earlier than their peers. Period.
Here are the cool, proven and effective programs/links for school nurses (parents…ask your school nurse about which program would work best for your child’s school) that you will find in the above flyer…
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- Asthma basics–this program is in alignment with the Center For Disease Control’s Coordinated Schools Health Model. Okay, what that really means is that this program provides a framework for schools to develop asthma plans, policy and education by providing a tool kit to make it happen! In addition, local ALA chapters can even help out schools with guidance.
- Asthma Educators Institute-my personal favorite! After six 40 minutes sessions, students, aged 8-11 years old will walk away understanding how to manage their own asthma! We teach students how to identify their asthma triggers and avoid them, how to handle an asthma event, understanding the difference between maintenance and rescue medications and we even role play speaking to adults! I can’t say enough about this powerful program-as you can tell.
- Guide to Asthma Policy for Housing and Schools-this two-day professional development course for clinicians is based on the National Institute of Health’s asthma guidelines.
- Lungtropolis-you can enjoy online access to an entire tool box of support, policy and ideas to create good solid policy here.
Now, here more fabulous resources/links just for kids and parents that you can find in the above flyer..
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- Asthma basics-is a fun, bright and happy website created for kids aged 5-10 years old. I love the name–it’s so corny that it is cool. Do not under-estimate the power of the corny web game–kids really do learn a lot at this site! There is actually a kid site and parent site. Make sure you check it out.
- Asthma Educators Institute-an online learning tool geared towards the entire family: kids, parents, grandparents, caregivers, etc. It is only 50 minutes long and covers asthma management, asthma action plans and how to respond to a breathing emergency. Asthma control in a one stop! You visit this link and then send an email to participate in the learning module.
- Lung Helpline! (800) LUNGUSA or (800) 586-4872. Help and guidance are only 10 digits away..and it’s for free! I have friends who have used this Helpline and rave about it.
Again, share this flyer with asthmatic friends, your doctor and of course, your own school nurse and principal. You will help keep kids with asthma in school instead of home sick! Print this: Asthma Management Tools For School Nurses It’s a good thing to share free and effective resources!
[fbshare type=”button”] [pinterest count=”horizontal”]asthmatic child healthy and his/hers asthma under control this is the PDF page to print and take to your school nurse.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..