Asthma Management In Educational Settings

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Asthma Management In Educational Settings

• Physical Education Teachers and Coaches Education
  Module

2
Overview

• Asthma Basics
• Asthma and exercise
• Asthma management in athletics
• Medications
• Support for student
• Preventive actions to take
• How to handle an asthma emergency
• How to read an asthma management plan
• Resources

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Asthma Basics

• What is asthma?
• Chronic lung condition that causes breathing
  problems (asthma attacks)
• Manageable disease
• Who has asthma?
• 4.8M US, 150K (1 in 10) Washington children
• Level of severity varies from student to student

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Asthma Basics (cont.)

• What happens during an asthma attack?
• Airways in lungs become smaller extra mucus in
  airways can further block air
• Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest
  tightness, shortness of breath
• What can trigger an asthma attack?
• Respiratory illness, allergens, weather,
  irritants, emotions, exercise
• Students may have different triggers

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Asthma Basics (cont.)
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Asthma and Exercise

• Encourage physical activity and participation in
  sports
• When asthma is under good control, students
  should be able to participate in all physical
  activities

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Asthma Management in Athletics Medications

• Medications
• Preventive medications taken daily (will not
  reverse an asthma attack)
• e.g., Azmacort, Flovent, Singulair, Intal
• Rescue medications to treat and relieve symptoms
  as needed
• e.g., Ventolin, Proventil, Maxair
• Using a metered dose inhaler/peak flow meter
• Understand the possible side effects
• drowsy/different/anxious/embarrassed/withdrawn

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Asthma Management in Athletics Support for
Student

• Balance maintaining expectations vs. flexibility
• Treat students with asthma as part of the group,
  but discuss asthma concerns privately

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Asthma Management in Athletics Preventive
Actions to Take

• Eliminate triggers (e.g., mold, dust)
• Have student take medication before activity
• Provide 10-15 minute warm-up and cool-down
• Adjust activity as necessary
• Consider type of activity, pacing, weather,
  nasal breathing
• Monitor student for warning signs
• Using a peak flow meter

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Asthma Management in Athletics Preventive
Actions to Take (cont.)

• Know how to read an asthma management plan
• Contact information
• Common signs of asthma attack
• Use of medications
• Treatment plan
• Other conditions
• Special instructions (field trips, etc.)

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How to Handle an Asthma Emergency

• Contact the school nurse, if available
• Provide medications as directed by School
  Emergency Asthma Plan
• Encourage student to relax and take slow, deep
  breaths
• Always have someone accompany the student with
  asthma symptoms when going to the office or
  nurses office

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How to Handle an Asthma Emergency (cont.)

• Call 911 if
• No improvement 15-20 minutes after initial
  treatment with medication
• Medications are not available and student has
  signs of asthma attack
• Lips or nail beds turn gray or blue (students
  with light complexions)
• Paling of lips or nail beds (students with dark
  complexions)
• Decreasing or loss of consciousness

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Resources

• Spokane
• Camp Champ
• Statewide
• www.alaw.org
• Websites
• www.epa.gov/iaq
• www.asthmaandschools.org
• www.lungusa.org