What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease. It cannot be cured but it CAN BE CONTROLLED. People with asthma may:

• Have airways that react to certain things called triggers - things like smoke or dust
• Have airways that sometimes become narrow and blocked by mucus
• Have airways that become swollen and inflamed
• Experience coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.

The Statistics

• Over 17.3 million Americans are affected by asthma.
• Of these, nearly 5 million are children under 18 years of age.
• Over 14 million school days are lost annually to asthma in the U.S.
• Asthma is responsible for15 deaths each day in the U.S.

Education Solution
Asthma 101 is a free one-hour educational program presented by trained health care professionals providing information on:

• The prevalence of asthma
• Basic signs and symptoms of asthma
• Common triggers found in the school environment
• Basic management of an acute asthma episode
• Asthma medications and delivery devices
• Asthma management and monitoring tools

In addition, the ALA has developed two posters:

• Five-step Asthma Management Plan including emergency procedures ( View Poster)
• Common Asthma Triggers including information on how to eliminate or reduce triggers ( View Poster)

All who attend the program will receive valuable asthma management information and instruction. The need for strong asthma education and asthma management within the schools is evident. Families of asthmatic children live with constant fear and anxiety about their child's health. This program gives parents the reassurance that school personnel can react appropriately to their child's asthma.

Asthma-101 Registration Form

To schedule a program for your school or child care facility, call: 1-800-LUNG-USA, 217-787-5864 or email us for more information.