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May Is Asthma Awareness Month!
Asthma is a serious and sometimes life-threatening chronic respiratory disease. Chances are that you or a loved one knows someone with asthma. This disease affects the quality of life for almost 24 million Americans, including an estimated 6 million children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although there is no cure for this disease, knowing and controlling asthma triggers can assist adults and children in leading healthy and productive lives. Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, where concentrations of asthma triggers can be high, so it is important to be aware of asthma triggers and know how to prevent asthma episodes.
Asthma triggers are allergens and irritants that can cause asthma symptoms or an asthma episode—triggers can actually make asthma worse. In the school building, identifying asthma triggers is the first step to creating a healthy learning environment for students and staff.
Common asthma triggers include—
- Chemical irritants
- Cockroaches and other pests
- Dust mites
- Molds
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Outdoor air pollution
- Pets
- Secondhand smoke
- Wood smoke
Highlights
Upcoming Webinars!
Building a Star Asthma Care Team: Best Practices From the 2016 Asthma Award Winners
May 25, 2016, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Learn from the best! Join this webinar to hear successful strategies for building a strong foundation for your program through creating an efficient workforce and strong partnerships.
Know the Drill for Healthy IAQ: Training School Staff and Occupants to Reduce Indoor Asthma Triggers
June 9, 2016, 1:00 p.m. EDT
Register to attend the latest webinar in the IAQ Knowledge-to-Action Professional Training Webinar Series to learn about best practices for training staff to identify, recognize and address indoor environmental asthma triggers and how to perform the actions essential for effectively managing asthma in schools.
How You Can Celebrate!
Take Action in Your School Community
Asthma Awareness Month (AAM) is a perfect time to raise awareness and take action in your school community.
Plan educational events and activities for students, staff and parents using EPA’s AAM Event Planning Kit. The planning kit includes ideas and helpful tips for planning and running powerful asthma events in your school. Sample materials and a resource order form also are included to help you prepare your events.
Post your activities in the AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org events calendar!
Teach Kids About Asthma
Looking for ideas to teach children about asthma? Try creative and successful activities from North East Independent School District’s Diane Rhodes, presented in the 2013 Asthma Award Winners webinar. North East Independent School District is one of many school programs that share resources and connect with others on AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org.
Collaborate with other community programs, like the Girl Scouts, to offer educational opportunities to students. The Asthma Awareness Patch Program teaches Girl Scouts about asthma, environmental triggers and how they can help friends with asthma avoid triggers.
Resources for Schools
Watch the IAQ Master Class Professional Training webinar on IAQ and Health: Managing Asthma for Improved Health and Academic Outcomes to hear strategies from experts for managing asthma in the school environment, and visit EPA’s website to learn how to apply the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit and Framework to your school’s IAQ management plan.
Check out these additional resources:
Closing the Gap: Addressing Asthma Disparities in Schools webinar
Managing Asthma in the School Environment
Celebrate #AsthmaAwarenessMonth in Your School and Beyond
Consider using social media, like Facebook and Twitter, to promote AAM and events at your school and in your community. Use the sample posts below on your program’s social media pages.
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Tweets—Follow EPA on Twitter @EPA.
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Sample Tweets
#Asthma costs children >10 million school days each year. Tackle asthma triggers at home and school. 1.usa.gov/20zakwR
#DYK about 24 million people, including more than 6 million children, have asthma? 1.usa.gov/21l3N7M #EPAasthma
Sample Posts
#Asthma costs children more than 10 million school days each year and many sleepless nights. Tackle asthma triggers at home and at school. Spread #AsthmaAwareness. Learn more: www.epa.gov/asthma/asthma-improving-health-communities-and-schools. #EPAasthma
Did you know that 24 million people in the United States—including more than 6 million children—are estimated to have asthma? The annual cost, including the cost of hospital stays and lost school and work days, is $56 billion. Let’s work together to control asthma: www.epa.gov/asthma/asthma-awareness.
Questions? Contact Us
Asthma Awareness Month is a great time to join the AsthmaCommunityNetwork and learn more!
Visit AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org.
Email us or provide feedback.
Know someone who might be interested in joining AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org? Help us spread the word!
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