Parent Asthma Awareness Education

Mission Statement: The Asthma Awareness Education Program will address the needs of students and staff by creating asthma-friendly environments and by providing educational resources for the students and staff on asthma disease management.  Program goals include increasing student/staff productivity and attendance; which benefit stakeholders with increased student performance, lower healthcare costs, and decreased absenteeism.  Healthier children learn better.

Goal: Preventing Asthma Episodes and Controlling Your Asthma

For people with asthma, having an asthma management plan is the best way to prevent symptoms. An asthma management plan is something developed by you and your doctor to help you control your asthma, instead of your asthma controlling you. An effective plan should allow you to:

• Be active without having asthma symptoms. (Reliever inhaler use no more than twice per week for symptoms)
• Fully take part in desired exercise and sports – don’t settle for a sport with minimal exertion/running
• Sleep all night, without asthma symptoms. (Night-time cough no more than twice per month)
• Attend school or work regularly – normal school and work attendance as someone without asthma
• Have the clearest lungs possible. (Normal -or “near normal”- pulmonary function)
• Have few or no side effects from asthma medications. (Three or less quick reliever canisters refilled each year).
• Have no emergency visits or stays in the hospital.
• Asthma is a completely controllable disease. If you are not maintaining control, talk to your doctor.

Take the MY ASTHMA CONTROL ASSESSMENT from the American Lung Association 

Rules of Two:  When is quick relief for asthma NOT ENOUGH? link  Do you....... if you answer yes to any, talk to your doctor 

Improving the quality of life of the child with asthma involves everyone in the child's life - the child, parents/guardians, physicians, and schools - campus nurse, teachers, and administrators - working together. 

• Children of age should take action to help manage their asthma.  AIMS program for 4th and 5th graders (contact your campus nurse)
• Parents/guardians must understand the definition of asthma control, recognize symptoms, seek proper medical diagnosis and treatment, and manage triggers in the home. 
  • Asthma Basics  
  • Asthma Basics (Spanish)
• Physician must be informed of students' level of control to prescribe proper meidcation regimen (parents/guardians and campus nurse work together to insure coordiantion of care).
• Schools (campus nurse, teachers, and administrators) should facilitate asthma friendly practices; treatment modalities, provide education to staff on asthma and its symptoms, and strive to remove asthma triggers from the school indoor environment. 

Working together, WE can achieve asthma control for the life of the child with asthma. Our commitment to classroom indoor air quality and asthma management & education results in higher student productivity and attendance; which benefit the district with increased student performance and more importantly, it reduces the burden of uncontrolled asthma on NEISD families.

Your child's campus nurse is an advocate for your child with asthma to have a normal quality of life. Please make sure your campus nurse is aware that your child has asthma or any history of asthma.   

Asthma Letter 

Asthma Letter (Spanish)