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Helpful Tips• Reduceexposuretochalkdust.• Chooselow-orno-odordryerasemarkers,paints
andglues• Fixmoistureproblemsinclassrooms,water
fountainsandbathrooms• Eliminatedusty/musty/messystacksofpapersand
books• Donotallowanypetsinclassrooms• Enforcenosmokingrules• Encourageyoungchildrenallergictodustmitesto
bringtheirowncoversforsleepingmatsorpillows• Useonlywashablestuffedanimals,andwashthem
weekly• Encourageschooltouseintegratedpest
management(IPM)practicesinsteadofpesticides• Makesurestudentshaveup-to-dateallergy
andasthmaactionplansonfile,alongwithnecessarypermissiontocarryanduseemergencymedications.Carrythisinformationonschooltrips.
• Keepwindowsclosedondayswithhighlevelsofpollen,moldorpollution
Seeourotherbrochures
8229 Boone Blvd.Suite 260
Vienna, VA 22182800.878.4403
Who We AreAllergy&AsthmaNetworkistheleadingnonprofitpatientoutreach,educationandadvocacyorganizationforpeoplewithasthma,allergiesandrelatedconditions.Ourpatient-centerednetworkunitesindividuals,families,healthcareprofessionals,industryandgovernmentdecisionmakerstoimprovehealthandqualityoflifeformillionsofpeopleaffectedbytheconditions.Aninnovatorinencouragingfamilyparticipationintreatmentplans,Allergy&AsthmaNetworkspecializesinmakingaccuratemedicalinformationrelevantandunderstandabletoallwhilepromotingstandardsofcarethatareproventowork.Webelievethatintegratingpreventionwithtreatmenthelpsreduceemergencyhealthcarevisits,keepchildreninschoolandadultsatwork,andallowparticipationinsportsandotheractivitiesofdailylife.
Our MissionToendunnecessarydeathandsufferingduetoasthma,allergiesandrelatedconditionsthroughoutreach,education,advocacyandresearch.
Allergy&AsthmaNetworkisa501(c)(3)organization.
ThisbrochurewasdevelopedwiththesupportoftheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)-XA.1UE1EH000765-04.
ItscontentissolelytheresponsibilityoftheauthorsanddoesnotnecessarilyreflecttheofficialviewsoftheCDC.
Reviewedby:JamesSublett,MD,FACAAI,FAAAAI,FAAP,AmericanCollegeofAllergy,Asthma&Immunology
Steps to Asthma Control
1 Workcloselywithyourhealthcareteamtounderstand,manageandpreventsymptoms;keepallroutineasthmavisits.
2 Takeallmedicinesasprescribed;knowtheirnames,when,howandwhytousethem.
3 Learnwhatthingssetoffyourasthmasymptoms;avoidthemasmuchaspossible.
4 Treatasthmasymptomsassoonastheyappear,followingyourAsthmaActionPlan.
Breathe Betterat school
Indoor air quality basics
Asthmaisanongoinglungdiseasethatcausesepisodesofcoughing,wheezingandshortnessofbreath.Likeallchronicillnesses,asthmacannotbecured,butyoucanpreventandeasesymptoms.Thekeytoasthmacontrolistostayawayfromthethingsthatirritateyourlungs.Mostofthesethingsareintheairwebreathe.
Indoorallergensandirritantscancauseitchy,wateryeyes;sneezy,runnynose;sinusandearcongestion;headache;orfatigue.Forpeoplewithasthma,theycansparkcoughing,wheezinganddifficultybreathing–andleadtoafull-blownasthmaattack.
AsthmaistheleadingchronicillnessamongchildrenandyouthintheUnitedStatesandtheprincipalcauseofschoolabsenteeism.Removingallergens,irritantsandcontaminantsfromtheairinsidetheschoolwillreducestudentandstaffallergyandasthmasymptoms,alongwithneedformedicationoremergencytreatment.
Atthebeginningofeachschoolyearandaftervacations,parentsshouldmeetwithteachersandschoolnursestoupdatethechild’sasthmaactionplanandcheckclassroomsforpotentialasthmaorallergytriggers.
Dust mitesThesetinyinsectsarefoundinupholsteredfurniture,naptimefloormats,pillows,stuffedtoysandcarpets.Theyfeedoffshedhumanskinwhereverthereismoisturetosurvive.Allergensfromtheirdeadbodiesandwastecollectinfurnishingsanddustthenirritateairwaysandeyesoncontact.Solution:
•Havechildrenwithasthmaorallergiesbringtheirownwashablecoversforsleepingmatsorpillowsandtakethemhomeweeklyforwashing
•Minimizeuseofstuffedanimalsforchildrenwithasthma
•Chooseclassroomfurniturepaddedwithvinylorothermaterialsthatareeasilywipeddown
•Besuremaintenancepersonnelvacuumcarpetsandkeepwindowblindsfreeofdust
PetsCats,dogsandotherfurryorfeatheredanimalsshedanimaldander--tinyparticlesofproteinfromskin,salivaandwastethatsettleincarpetsanddust.Whendisturbed,theseallergensflyintotheairandirritateeyesandlungsofsensitivepeople.Nobreedistruly“allergenfree.”Solution:
•Donotallowanyanimalsintotheclassroom
MoldMoldgrowsindampareas,bothindoorsandout,sendingtinysporesflyingthroughtheairandintolungs.Somemoldsaretoxic.Solution:
•Checkclassroomsforleakypipesorwaterdamageandreporttomaintenance
•Storewaterandfoodovernightinsealedcontainers•Donotkeeppottedplantsintheclassroom,asmold
cangrowonpotsandinsoil
Cockroaches and rodentsAllergensfrominsectsandrodentssettleindust,carpetsandfurnishings,thenflyintotheairandlungswhendisturbed.Thesepestsneedwaterandfoodtosurvive.Solution:
•Fixleakypipesorothersourcesofmoisture•Cleancrumbsandfoodspills;keepfoodinsealed
containers•Enforcesafefoodhandlingandstoragepolicies
Secondhand smokeSecondhandsmokeisdangerous.Forpeoplewithasthma,especiallyyoungchildren,itcansetoffsymptomsandcauselong-termlungdamage.Solution:
•Enforceno-smokingpoliciesforstudentsandstaffonschoolgrounds
Germs and bacteriaRespiratoryvirusesandbacterialinfectionssetoffasthmasymptomsinpeopleofallages.Solution:
•Makesurestudentswashhandsbeforeandaftereatingandrecess
•Encourageuseoftissuesforcoughsandsneezes•Askstudentsillwithcoldsorflutostayhomeuntil
healthy
Chemicals and strong odorsPerfume,airfresheners,scenteddry-erasemarkers,paintsandgluesfromartorscienceprojectsirritatelungsandsetoffasthmasymptomsinstudentsandstaff.Solution:
•Uselow-orno-odordryerasemarkers,artorsciencesupplies
•Establisha“noperfume”classroomrule•Skipthescentedairfreshenersandcandles
Other airborne irritantsChalkdustisanimmediateirritantforanyonewhobreathesit,especiallythosewithasthma.Solution:
•Cleanchalkboardsanderaserswhenstudentsareoutoftheroom
•Seatstudentswithasthmaawayfromchalkboards
Common allergens and irritants found in classrooms:
