Sonoma County Asthma Coalition

The Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative (AFSI) is a powerful public health project that has the potential to positively impact the millions of American students with asthma. Its success relies on collaborative efforts among schools, community agencies and leaders, and a planning process that considers virtually every factor that can influence its success.

The AFSI program is sponsored by the American Lung Association and the Centers for Disease Control.

For more information see the Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative.

EPA Tools for Schools

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Twenty percent of the U.S. population, nearly 55 million people, spend their days in our elementary and secondary schools. In the mid-1990s, studies show that 1 in 5 of our nation’s 110,000 schools reported unsatisfactory indoor air quality, and 1 in 4 schools reported ventilation — which impacts indoor air quality — as unsatisfactory.

Students are at greater risk because of the hours spent in school facilities and because children are especially susceptible to pollutants.”

For more information on indoor air quality in schools see the U.S. EPA Tools for Schools Program.

With funding from an AFSI grant from the American Lung Association, and grants from The California Endowment, the Sonoma County Asthma Coalition has been able to offer:

—asthma awareness and education to teachers, staff, school nurses, and coaches
— high school students have conducted indoor air quality assessments in classrooms and identified asthma triggers that need to be remediated
— county-wide trainings have been offered on “Green Cleaning in Schools”, “Tools for Schools on Indoor Air Quality” and Asthma Tool Kit trainings for school nurses
—asthma awareness and education are offered to 5th and 9th grade students, as well as the following classes for students with asthma:

Open Airways in Schools

Open Airways asthma education classes are available for elementary schools students who have asthma. The OAS program has been offered to students at Roseland, Guerneville, and Monte Rio, Santa Rosa City Schools and Wright School Districts in Sonoma County.

The OAS class consists of six 40-minute group lessons for children with asthma, usually held during lunch or after school. OAS uses group discussion, stories, games and role play to help students take part in the program that covers the following topics:

1. Basic information about asthma
2. Recognizing and managing asthma symptoms
3. Using medication
4. Avoiding asthma triggers
5. Getting enough exercise
6. Doing well at school

Kickin Asthma In Schools

Kickin’ Asthma is an interactive program that teaches high school and middle school students how to better manage their asthma. The Kickin’ Asthma class has been offered at Analy,El Molino and Laguna High Schools in the West County Union High School District. The program includes four 45 minute lessons, offered during the lunch hour, that cover:

1. Asthma facts, physiology
2. Symptoms, early warning signs, and triggers
3. Medicines and devices
4. Emergency signs, review, self advocacy, and problem solving

Comprehensive Asthma Management in Schools
Schools often do not have systems in place to ensure prevention and management of asthma. One tool that schools can use is:

Schools Health Index (SHI)

The SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. The SHI was developed by the Centers for Disease Control with input from school administrators, health experts, parents, and health & education agencies.

The West Sonoma County Union High School district used the School Health Index in 2009 to assess the district’s overall wellness, and it’s current health and safety management systems.

There is growing recognition of the relationship between health and academic performance. The results from using the SHI can help schools include health promotion activities in a school’s overall School Wellness Plan in the following ways:

• Enabling schools to identify strengths and weaknesses of health and safety policies and programs,
• Enabling schools to develop an action plan for improving student health, which can be incorporated into the School Wellness Plan, and

• Engaging teachers, parents, students, and the community in promoting health-enhancing behaviors and better health.

  For more information about the SHI contact us or see the Schools Health Index at the Centers for Disease Control.

  Additional resources for schools and asthma

  Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP) Schools Committee

  The Sonoma County Asthma Coalition is a member of the RAMP Schools Committee. The group “focuses on education for staff and students, improving indoor air quality in schools, and establishing management and support systems for students with asthma.” For more information see RAMP website.