Asthma
Useful info to Download:
Download an Asthma Action Plan
Asthma Fact Sheet
Open Airwarys Program Informational Flyer
You know what it feels like to lay awake at night listening to your child coughing and wheezing. They are suffering and you don’t know how to help. The loss of sleep and absence from school and work is taking valuable time away from you and your family. You feel trapped and defenseless. Little do you know that you are not alone; over 20 million Americans have asthma.
Childhood asthma is on the rise. Since 1980, the rate of asthma in children has increased 160%. The disease continues to place a burden on society in terms of deaths, quality of life and healthcare costs. However, many are not aware that asthma can be controlled and the American Lung Association® of Mississippi can help.
Kids With Asthma Bill of Rights
Support the American Lung Association!
For the more than six million children with asthma who need help managing their life-threatening disease, and the many who end up in the emergency room each year, the American Lung Association® offers Kids With Asthma Bill of Rights – a tool to help children assert their right to live active, healthy lives.
The Bill of Rights is intended to start a frank conversation between children and their parents, between parents and teachers, and among principals, policy makers and elected officials. For children to fully realize these rights, the American Lung Association® is calling for changes in attitudes, public policies and laws related to asthma and air pollution.
Parents, guardians or teachers can sign a petition to affirm their belief that all children suffering from asthma are entitled to regular medical care and affordable medicines – proven elements in asthma management.
“What’s so frustrating about asthma is that it is a manageable disease that all too often is not being managed, resulting in trips to the ER and limiting normal childhood activity,” said Dr. Anne Yates, Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Allergy/Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center. “We know the steps that need to be taken to manage the disease, and now we’ve laid down the specific rights that will give children, parents and teachers a road map to strong asthma management.”
The Kids With Asthma Bill of Rights includes 10 statements that form the pillars of a complete asthma-management plan, including the right to breathe clean air at home and at school, the right to play sports with a doctor’s agreement, the right to know his or her asthma triggers, and the right to effective and affordable asthma medications. The Bill of Rights also encourages children to work with their parents, teachers and doctors to create an “Asthma Action Plan” for when trouble strikes.
What Can Parents Do?
As parents, you assist your child in managing asthma through communication, advocacy and knowledge. There are many resources available through the American Lung Association®’s lung health web site: www.lungusa.org (link). Here are a few actions you can take:
- Talk to your child’s doctor to understand asthma triggers, medications and warning signs.
- Download the Kids With Asthma Bill of Rights and talk with your child about how to put these rights into action.
- Order your free Action tapes/CD-Rom by calling the American Lung Association® of Mississippi at 1-800-LUNGUSA or 601-206-5810.
- Educate teachers, administrators and policy makers about asthma and the Kids With Asthma Bill of Rights.
- Work with your child’s doctor to have a strong asthma management plan. A free Asthma Action Plan form is available online at www.lungusa.org. (An asthma management plan tells you and anyone else caring for your child what to do to help make sure your child lives a healthy, active life. Be sure to share that management plan with your child’s teachers, school nurse, grandparents and babysitters—anyone who may have responsibility for your child.)
- Make sure all children with asthma are vaccinated against the flu. Preventing the flu may mitigate asthma episodes and trips to the ER. Flu shots for people with asthma have been proven safe through research conducted by the American Lung Association.
- Encourage children with asthma to participate in all activities, but know their limitations and triggers. Asthma triggers may include: exercise, smoke, pollen, dust, air pollution, animal fur, colds, flu and other respiratory infections.
- Work with the American Lung Association® of Mississippi to implement the Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative, a comprehensive, community-focused asthma management program for schools.
- Check the air quality information before letting children with asthma play outside to ensure that they will not have trouble breathing. Local air quality information is available for most communities from your local weather forecast or online at www.epa.gov/airnow/.
- Protect your kids from indoor air pollution, by never allowing anyone smoke in your home and support efforts to eliminate smoking indoors in your community. Encourage your child’s school to use the Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative program, which includes help for improving indoor air in schools.
- Help support asthma research by participating in the Asthma Walk in Mississippi. For more information on asthma walks or to make a donation, contact your local American Lung Association® at 1-800-LUNGUSA or 601-206-5810 or click here. For more information about the Walk visit www.lungusa.org
- Sign up for the American Lung Association® Action Network at www.lungaction.org to help protect the Clean Air Act, which is critical to help us clean up our air.
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