Lung Health News, Fall 2004 / Winter 2005
Central Coast Emergency Room Visits Decrease
The American Lung Association of the Central Coast's Early Childhood Asthma Initiative program ended in June after serving 225 children ages 0-5 over a three-year period. By the end of the program, emergency room visits due to asthma dropped by 38 percent and the frequency and severity of the children’s asthma symptoms declined by 75 percent.
San Diego and Imperial Counties Issues Asthma Report
The American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties coordinates the San Diego Regional Asthma Coalition, which recently released the first Asthma Report Card for San Diego County. A tool for practitioners and health advocates, the report card uses data from eight different organizations to track hospitalizations, 911 calls, and deaths due to asthma.
San Francisco and San Mateo Counties Addresses Indoor Air
The San Francisco Asthma Task Force, staffed by the American Lung Association of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, is working with the San Francisco Unified School District to institutionalize the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program throughout the district. The Task Force is also working with the Housing Authority to improve its current inspection and remediation procedures to address environmental conditions that exacerbate asthma.
Redwood Empire Distributes Toolkits Through Coalition
The Sonoma County Asthma Coalition developed 100 asthma toolkits highlighting identification and avoidance of environmental triggers. Piloted to seven healthcare sites, these kits have received high ratings from healthcare providers and physicians. The American Lung Association of California-Redwood Empire Branch is the lead agency of the coalition.
Santa Clara-San Benito Counties Offers Two Asthma Programs
The American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties serves local asthma needs with two key programs: Indoor Air Quality Tools For Schools and Open Airways For Schools. Through these two core programs, the association has provided indoor air quality evaluations and on-site asthma management classes at 167 area schools.
Santa Barbara Asthma Camp Focuses on Inner City Kids
The University of California, Santa Barbara, recently hosted a camp for children with asthma from an inner city environment in Los Angeles. The camp taught them how to manage their disease by improving reading skills.
Sacramento-Emigrant Trails Focuses on Education
The American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails’ Asthma Collaborative is a community-wide group of healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and parents. To date, they have distributed 24,000 asthma tool kits, conducted healthcare provider and teacher trainings, educated pharmacists, and raised public awareness. This year, the Collaborative will continue public outreach, focus on child and school-based education programs, and expand Asthma Walk participation and sponsorships.
Central California Hosts Another Successful Camp Sierra
The American Lung Association of Central California, with support from the Fansler Foundation, hosted its 24th weeklong camp for asthmatic children ages 10-13 in June. Campers participated in asthma management classes as well as fun activities like swimming, hiking, rock wall climbing, and horseback riding in beautiful Yosemite National Forest .
