Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 20, 2014 American Lung Association aids students with asthma Getting a child prepared to start school is always easier when there is a plan in place – especially when that child has asthma. The American Lung Association gives tips to implement before the school year starts to keep children with asthma safe at home, in the classroom, on the athletic field, and everywhere in between. Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood disorders in the nation, affecting an estimated seven million chil- dren under the age of 18. It is also one of the primary illness-related reasons that stu- dents miss school, accounting for more than 10 million lost school days each year. The American Lung Association’s “Back-to-School with Asthma Checklist” provides easy-to-follow steps to help chil- dren start the school year healthy and ready to learn: Learn about asthma. Learning about asthma is easy. The American Lung Asso- ciation has many free resources about keep- ing asthma in good control. Well controlled asthma is the key to helping a child who has asthma stay healthy and active. Visit www.lung.org/asthma to learn about asthma and asthma management. Be sure to watch the short animation “What is Asthma?” to learn what happens in the air- ways during an asthma episode. “Asthma Basics” is a 50-minute online educational tool for people with asthma or anyone who provides care for someone living with asthma. It teaches how to recog- nize and manage asthma symptoms, how to identify and reduce triggers, how to create an asthma management plan, and how to respond to a breathing emergency. Those who have children with asthma can visit the Lungtropolis website together. Lungtropolis includes action-packed games designed to help kids control their asthma, and advice for parents and guardians. Talk to the school nurse. A visit or phone call to the school nurse should be the next step. Parents or guardians, the school nurse, and the child’s health care provider can work together to reduce asthma triggers and manage symptoms while in school. Ask the school nurse to explain and pro- vide all of the required forms to be signed and completed. Discuss the child’s asthma triggers and steps to reduce them in the classroom. Ask about the school’s asthma emer- gency plan, and if coaches, teachers, and staff are trained in how to recog- nize asthma symptoms and respond to a breathing emergency. All 50 states and the District of Columbia allow children to self- carry and use their asthma inhalers while at school. Asthma can be fatal and one never knows when asthma symptoms may occur. Discuss the policies and practices to ensure immediate access to the child’s asthma medication while at school. Schedule an asthma checkup. Each school year should begin with a visit to the child’s health care provider for an asthma checkup. This checkup is the best time to make sure the child is on the right amount of medicine, fill out any forms required by the school, and create an asthma manage- ment plan. Kids with asthma should visit their health care provider at least once a year and more often when they are having symptoms. The Lung Association website provides helpful hints on how to talk to health care providers and make medical visits more satisfying. Develop an asthma action plan. An asthma action plan is a written worksheet created by one’s health care provider and tailored to an individual child’s needs. The plan includes a list of the child’s asthma triggers and symptoms, the names of his or her medicines, and how much medicine to take when needed. The plan also explains the steps to take to manage an asthma episode and a breathing emergency. An asthma action plan should always be on file in the school nurse’s office and easily accessible to anyone who may need to help a child use his or her inhaler. Get a flu shot. On average, one out of five Americans suffers from influenza (flu) every year. Respiratory infections such as the flu are one of the most common asthma triggers. The American Lung Association’s Asthma Clinical Research Centers found the flu shot is safe for people with asthma. The best way to protect one’s family from the flu is for everyone to get vaccinated. For additional information about asthma and children, visit www.lung.org/asthma or call 1-800-LUNG-USA. Now in its second century, the Ameri- can Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With the public’s support, the American Lung Association is “Fight- ing for Air” through research, education, and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity and holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the association’s work, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586- 4872) or visit www.lungusa.org.