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Asthma

Asthma
Asthma is the number one cause of school absenteeism
due to chronic illness, accounting for 10 million
lost school days annually. Nearly one in 13 school-aged
children has asthma.

To
address asthma in schools, the NEA HIN launched
a new Asthma and Schools website in November 2001
– www.asthmaandschools.org
. This new website consolidates information about
asthma-related resources for school personnel
working with grades K-12. The Asthma and Schools
website includes these features:


  • Asthma Essentials    -a series of short fact
    sheets outlining major aspects about asthma
    and how to handle it at school
  • Searchable
    Database    -a comprehensive source of resources
    from various asthma-oriented organizations that
    school staff can use in working with students
    and families who experience asthma
  • Glossary-a
    list of asthma-related terms helping you better
    understand asthma

Because
children spend up to eight hours a day in the
school building, a healthy indoor environment
is crucial in the management of asthma. By implementing
EPA’s IAQ
Tools for Schools Kit, schools can improve
IAQ for all students, most especially for those
with asthma. The Kit offers suggestions for reducing
exposure to pollutants that may cause or trigger
asthma.

EPA
also has a publication entitled IAQ
Tools for Schools: Managing Asthma in the School
Environment, which clearly shows the link
between the indoor environment and asthma. This
publication provides general information on asthma,
specific facts on common asthma triggers found
in schools, suggested action items from the IAQ
Tools for Schools Kit for asthma management in
schools, and information about additional asthma
resources. If you are interested in obtaining
a copy of IAQ Tools for Schools Managing Asthma
in the School Environment (EPA Document #
EPA 02-K-00-003) call IAQ INFO at 1/800-438-4318
or e-mail [email protected].

The
NEA HIN serves on the School Asthma subcommittee
of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s
National Asthma Education and Prevention Program.
The subcommittee has two specific publications
for schools:

Other
asthma information: