Header at top of page: Catching Your Breath - Strategies to reduce environmental factors that impact asthma in children

Resources for state health and environment agencies working together to reduce asthma in children. Sponsored by ECOS.

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Programs to Assist Schools

US Environmental Protection Agency -- Tools for Schools Program

Tools for Schools Home Page -- As part of its indoor air quality program, US EPA provides information about asthma in schools and a variety of resources to deal with it.http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit. Provides an approach that schools can implement using available resources and on-site personnel. Includes checklists for employees, solutions, fact sheets, sample policies and memos. Hard copy of materials available by calling 1-800-438-4318. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tools4s2.html

Backgrounder - short explanation of air quality concerns and solutions for schools
Coordinator's Guide August 2000 -- 2 MB in PDF format -- 88 pages [cached copy in PDF format -- 2 MB].
Forms for coordinator (14 pages) In PDF at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/iaqforms.pdf[cached copy].

Case studies on experiences implementing Tools for Schools, for Massachusetts, California, and Colorado, at EPA. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/casestudies/index.html

Study in PDF format of how poor indoor air quality impairs student achievement. Prepared by US EPA. August 2000. [cached copy in PDF ].

American Lung Association -- Open Airways for Schools Program

Open Airways for Schools - teaches children with asthma, aged 8 to 11 the warning signs of asthma including the environmental factors that can trigger an attack of asthma. It is implemented in more than 15,000 schools and is designed to help children function in school and to help children educate their parents. http://www.lungusa.org/events/astopen.html

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. National Asthma Education Program.

Asthma Awareness: Curriculum for the Elementary Classroom. 1993. Includes lessons to help children of differing ages develop a basic understanding of asthma, learn about about appropriate actions that can help people with asthma. It provides resources to share with parents and other family members. Materials can be downloaded or ordered as hard copy for a fee. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/school/index.htm

How Asthma Friendly is Your School? http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/friendhi.htm

Questionnaire for parents http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/friendly.htm [cached copy in PDF]

Checklist for parents

In English http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/sch_chk.htm

En español -- ¿Su escuela tiene en cuenta a los niños con asma? http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/sch_ck-s.htm

Asthma and Physical Activity in the School: Making a Difference. Information for teachers and coaches working with students with asthma. 1995.
In PDF format at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/phy_asth.pdf

State of Washington

School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual. 1995. Department of Public Health. Provides detailed guidance on a full management program to maintain good air quality in schools, construction and maintenance. 175 pages. In PDF format at http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/iaq.pdf

Resources for School Nurses

Resources for School Nurses from Schering-Plough.
http://www.schoolasthma.com/2000-2001/sections/toolkit/tools_nurses/index.asp

Programs to Assist Child Care Facilities

Indiana Children's Health Program

Five Star Environmental Recognition for Child Care Facilities http://www.IN.gov/idem/kids/5star/index.html

Self assessment for child care facilities.
In PDF format at http://www.IN.gov/idem/kids/5star/selfassessment.pdf [cached copy]

Guidance for Indiana's Child Care Facilities on Protecting Children from Environmental Threats. Chapter Two addresses asthma. http://www.IN.gov/idem/kids/manual/contents.html

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. National Asthma Education Program.

How Asthma Friendly is Your Child Care Setting? http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/chc_chk.htm

En español: ¿Su guardería infantil tiene en cuenta a los niños con asma? http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/chc_ck-s.htm

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Resources for Schools and Child Care Facilities >>>One-pager

Programs to Assist Schools

US Environmental Protection Agency -- Tools for Schools Program

American Lung Association -- Open Airways for Schools Program

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. National Asthma Education Program.

Programs to Assist Child Care Facilities

Indiana Children's Health Program

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. National Asthma Education Program.