Asthma affects more than 20 million Americans, including 500,000 Marylanders, and is responsible for 24.5 million lost workdays for adults and 12.8 million lost school days for children each year.  Oftentimes, schools, homes and workplaces have poor indoor air quality caused by mold, dust, mildew and other common substances, which can trigger asthmatic episodes.  While there is no cure for asthma, it is a manageable disease.

:: Living with Asthma Night
Join us for a FREE workshop for families living with asthma.  This program will cover topics sucah as: steps to control & manage asthma, trigger management and device training.  The evening also includes refreshments and door prizes.  Please call 800-642-1184 x214 to register for any of the following nights:

Thursday, May 8th from 6-8pm
Braddock Hospital (WMHS)
Auditorium
900 Seton Drive
Cumberland, MD 21502

Wednesday, May 21st from 6-8pm
Lexington Park Library
Meeting Room A
21677 FDR Blvd.
Lexington Park, MD  20653

Wednesday, June 11th from 6-8pm
C. Burr Artz Public Library
Community Room
110 E. Patrick Street
Frederick, MD  21701

:: Asthma Action Plan Kit
The American Lung Association of Maryland is now offering free Asthma Action Plans for Maryland families that have a member with asthma. The plan helps create a written strategy on managing the disease, detailing an individual’s asthma attack triggers, any exercise modifications, control medications and emergency contact information.

The action plan is especially important as children return to school, when teachers and school nurses work to familiarize themselves with many children at once. More than 153,000 children and 501,000 adults in Maryland have a history of asthma. It is the leading cause of school absenteeism and the third leading cause of hospitalization for children under age 15. Asthma can be life threatening if not managed properly, and the disease kills more than 4,000 Americans annually.

The Asthma Action plan is available free of charge in both English and Spanish by calling the American Lung Association of Maryland at 410-560-2120 x214 or 800-642-1184 x214.

:: Open Airways for School Programs
Open Airways for Schools teaches elementary school-aged children with asthma and their parents/families how to manage and control their disease so they can lead a more normal active life. Open Airways for Schools teaches the children:

• How asthma affects them.
• Common things that trigger asthma.
• How to recognize their symptoms earlier.
• Steps that can be taken to control and manage their asthma.

The Open Airways for Schools Program includes:

Staff Training:  A training kit in English and Spanish with a curriculum consisting of six 40-minute lessons that build on each other, an instructor's guide, a colorful flip chart, and a packet of reproducible handouts for both the children and parents. Each kit is designed to serve an entire elementary school and can be used over and over again.

Considering the effects of indoor air quality on asthma, environmental asthma control methods from EPA's Tools for Schools Program is a component of the Open Airways for Schools Program.

Click here asthma@marylandlung.org to request more information.

:: Camp Superkids
Camp Superkids is an annual residential week-long camp for children with asthma ages 7 1/2 - 12 who reside in Maryland.   The dates for 2008 are July 20-25.  For more information on Camp Superkids, click here!

Resources
National Allergy Supply  www.nationalallergy.com
American Lung Association National  www.lungusa.org/asthma/