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Asthma
varies from student to
student and often from season to season. This is why physical
education teachers and coaches need to understand what
asthma is
and what the individual needs of their students are. At times,
programs for students with asthma may need temporary
modification, such as varying the type, length, and/or frequency
of activity. At all times, students with asthma should be
included in activities as much as possible. Remaining behind in
the gym or library or frequently sitting on the bench can set
the stage for teasing, loss of self-esteem, unnecessary
restriction of activity, and low levels of physical fitness.
Exercise induced asthma or
exercise induced bronchospasm is also a big challenge for
students and may require modification of activities.
Objectives of school asthma program:
It is the
program’s hope that this topic, "School Asthma Program," will help classroom teachers, physical education
teachers, and coaches help their students participate fully and
safely in sports and physical activities.
Lifelong physical fitness is an important goal for all students.
Yet students with asthma frequently restrict their physical
activities - and about 1 child in every 15 has asthma. This
presents a challenge to classroom teachers, physical education
teachers and coaches. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
encourages a partnership among students, families, physicians,
and school personnel in managing and controlling asthma so that
students can be active.
How students can control their asthma:
Getting control of
asthma means recognizing
asthma triggers
(the factors that make asthma worse or cause an asthma episode),
avoiding or controlling these triggers, following an asthma
management plan, and having convenient access to asthma
medications. It also means modifying physical activities to
match the students' current
asthma status.
Asthma
triggers:
Know your asthma triggers:
Each
student with
asthma has a list of triggers that can make his or her condition
worse - that is, that increase airway inflammation and/or make
the airways constrict, which makes breathing difficult.
You can also refer
to the link
Asthma Triggers.Avoid asthma triggers:
Some asthma
triggers - like pets with fur or feathers - can be avoided.
Others - like physical exercise - are important for good health
and should be controlled rather than avoided. Click
> How to control
asthma triggers <
to know more.
Asthma management plan contents:
Brief history of
the student's asthma.
-
Asthma symptoms.
-
Information on
how to contact the student's health care provider,
parent/guardian.
-
Physician and
parent/guardian signature.
-
List of factors
that make the student's asthma worse.
-
The student's
personal best peak flow reading if the student uses
peak flow monitoring.
-
List of the
student's
asthma medications.
-
A description of
the student's treatment plan, based on symptoms or peak flow
readings, including recommended actions for school personnel
to help handle asthma episodes.
Follow the Asthma
Management Plan:
A student's
asthma
management plan is developed for the student, parent/guardian,
and health care provider. Depending on the student's needs, the
plan may be a brief information card or a more extensive
individualized health plan. A copy of the plan should be on file
in the school office or health services office, with additional
copies for the student's teachers and coaches. The plan - as
well as the student's asthma medications--should be easily available for all
on- and off-site activities before, during and after school.
Winners with
Exercise-Induced Asthma (EIA):
What do Nancy
Hogshead, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Bill Koch, Greg Louganis,
Dominique Wilkins, and Jim Ryun all have in common?
Each is a famous
athlete who has asthma. They come from diverse fields: swimming,
track and field, cross-country skiing, diving, basketball, and
long-distance running. Following their
asthma management plans helped these athletes become winners.
Go to >
Exercise Induced Asthma < to read more.
Actions to consider:
-
Get a copy of
each student's
asthma management plan. Review the plan to
identify the role of the teacher and coach in the student's
asthma management plan.
-
Teach asthma
awareness and peer sensitivity. As students learn more about
asthma, they can more easily offer support instead of barriers
to their classmates with asthma.
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Last edited 22-08-2010 |
