Open Airways for Schools

 

Some of the districts that will participate in the program are Central Unified, Merced Unified, Kings County Schools and Tulare City Schools. If you are interested in beginning the program in your school call the American Lung Association Of Central California. We can provide you with the information to get you started and hopefully the volunteer educators as well. The districts receive the kits for free!.
 

Volunteer Ventures

 

For most children, school days mean reading, writing and arithmetic with lots of activity with friends.  But for children with asthma, it means a greater risk for respiratory infections that trigger asthma.  Upper respiratory infections such as the common cold can provoke asthma episodes, leading to absences from school, trips to the doctor, even visits to the emergency room and sometimes hospitalizations.  In fact, asthma accounts for 10 million lost school days each year and is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15.

However, Open Airways for Schools and Power Breathing for Adolescents offer hope by giving children effective skills to make responsible decisions about their medications, take steps to prevent episodes and to know how to handle an episode when it happens.  Children who have completed these programs show an improvement in school performance and increased confidence in participating in school activities.

Volunteers are needed to train to implement these programs in schools throughout Central California. School personnel, health professionals, interested parents and community volunteers will learn how to help children to a healthier life.  Our goal is to support the schools in their efforts to keep children in school.  Call the American Lung Association of Central California at 559-222-4800 to volunteer your time to help children breathe easier.

Power Breathing for Adolescents

 

A program designed to teach adolescents how to manage their asthma. Teens learn how to handle dating situations, job issues and taking asthma to college. This program was introduced at Cooper Middle School, Fresno and Gateway High School, Clovis during the 2000-2001 school year.