Asthma does not have to be a sports-stopper for kids
Posted: September 23, 2015 Filed under: Allergies, Asthma, Emergency Action Plan, Player Safety | Tags: allergies, asthma, player safety, Safety Tag, Youth Sports Leave a comment »You might remember a time when kids with asthma were discouraged from playing sports and told to take it easy. That’s no longer the case. Being active, working out and playing sports not only help kids with asthma stay fit, maintain a healthy weight and have fun, but also can strengthen their breathing muscles and help the lungs work better.
For these reasons, your doctor may recommend exercise as part of your child’s asthma treatment plan. If you have doubts about whether sports and asthma mix, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that asthma affects more than 20 percent of elite athletes and one in every six Olympic athletes.
Two important things that kids who have asthma should know about sports participation are their asthma must be under control in order for them to play sports properly and when it is well controlled, they can - and should - be active and play sports just like anyone else.
Of course, some sports are less likely than others to pose problems for people with asthma. Swimming, leisurely biking and walking are less likely to trigger asthma flare-ups, as are sports that require short bursts of activity like baseball, football, gymnastics and shorter track and field events.
Endurance sports, like long-distance running and cycling, and sports like soccer and basketball, which require extended energy output, may be more challenging. This is especially true for cold-weather sports like cross-country skiing or ice hockey. But that doesn’t mean kids can’t participate in these sports if they truly enjoy them. In fact, many athletes with asthma have found that, with proper training and medication, they can participate in any sport they choose.
To keep asthma under control, it’s important that kids take their medicine as prescribed.
Your child should carry quick-relief medicine (also called rescue or fast-acting medicine) at all times, even during workouts, in case of a flare-up.
It’s also a good idea to keep triggers in mind. Depending on their triggers, kids with asthma may want to skip outdoor workouts when pollen or mold counts are high, wear a scarf or ski mask when training outside during the winter, breathe through the nose instead of the mouth while exercising and make sure they always have time for a careful warm-up and cool-down.
These recommendations should be included in the asthma action plan you create with your child’s doctor.
Also, make sure that the coach knows about your child’s asthma and the asthma action plan. Most important, your child and the coach need to understand when it’s time for your child to take a break from a practice or game so that flare-ups can be managed before they become emergencies.
Source: “Tyler Morning Telegraph - Asthma Does Not Have to Be a Sports-stopper for Kids.” TylerPaper.com. N.p., 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
Make sure an asthma action plan is on your back-to-school checklist
Posted: August 5, 2015 Filed under: Asthma, Emergency Action Plan, Player Safety | Tags: asthma, player safety, Safety Tag Leave a comment »For nearly 7 million children living with asthma, gearing up for another school year involves much more than picking out a new pencil case and backpack.
Asthma is one of the main reasons that students miss school due to illness. All told, asthma causes more than 10 million lost school days every year. Parents, schools and health care providers can all play an active role to ensure that children with asthma can be healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
The American Lung Association has several tools and resources not only for parents, but also for school nurses other school personnel. Help create a community of support for children with asthma by using and sharing these free educational tools and resources.
Asthma Basics is our free online course that offers an overview of asthma management that is helpful for teachers, coaches, school nurses and parents. In this self-paced learning module, participants learn about asthma triggers, symptoms, steps to prevent an asthma episode and the actions to take to respond to a breathing emergency. Participants get access to a number of resources including an asthma action plan and medication demonstration videos.
Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative is a comprehensive approach to asthma management that aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Coordinated School Health model. This step-by-step guide includes best practices and template policies to create a safe and healthy learning environment. Parents can work with schools to ensure that asthma-friendly policies and practices are in place giving students with asthma the best chance for a successful school year.
We recommend that schools provide access to back-up quick-relief medication for students with asthma. By improving access to life-saving medication during the school day, schools can prevent a medical emergency. Our Stock Bronchodilator Model Policy is available for school districts.
Surveys have shown that some school personnel believe that elementary-aged children are not developmentally ready to carry their own asthma medication, in spite of research to the contrary. Through the Student Readiness Assessment Tool, we can empower students and increase confidence in their school nurses that students are able to self-carry their quick-relief inhalers during the school day and prevent emergencies.
The American Lung Association is committed to providing up-to-date information and resources to help keep children with asthma active and healthy. Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy school year.
Source:
Make sure an asthma action plan is on your back-to-school checklist
Posted: August 5, 2015 Filed under: Asthma, Emergency Action Plan, Player Safety | Tags: asthma, emergency action plan, player safety, Safety Tag Leave a comment »For nearly 7 million children living with asthma, gearing up for another school year involves much more than picking out a new pencil case and backpack.
Asthma is one of the main reasons that students miss school due to illness. All told, asthma causes more than 10 million lost school days every year. Parents, schools and health care providers can all play an active role to ensure that children with asthma can be healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
The American Lung Association has several tools and resources not only for parents, but also for school nurses other school personnel. Help create a community of support for children with asthma by using and sharing these free educational tools and resources.
Asthma Basics is our free online course that offers an overview of asthma management that is helpful for teachers, coaches, school nurses and parents. In this self-paced learning module, participants learn about asthma triggers, symptoms, steps to prevent an asthma episode and the actions to take to respond to a breathing emergency. Participants get access to a number of resources including an asthma action plan and medication demonstration videos.
Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative is a comprehensive approach to asthma management that aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Coordinated School Health model. This step-by-step guide includes best practices and template policies to create a safe and healthy learning environment. Parents can work with schools to ensure that asthma-friendly policies and practices are in place giving students with asthma the best chance for a successful school year.
We recommend that schools provide access to back-up quick-relief medication for students with asthma. By improving access to life-saving medication during the school day, schools can prevent a medical emergency. Our Stock Bronchodilator Model Policy is available for school districts.
Surveys have shown that some school personnel believe that elementary-aged children are not developmentally ready to carry their own asthma medication, in spite of research to the contrary. Through the Student Readiness Assessment Tool, we can empower students and increase confidence in their school nurses that students are able to self-carry their quick-relief inhalers during the school day and prevent emergencies.
The American Lung Association is committed to providing up-to-date information and resources to help keep children with asthma active and healthy. Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy school year.
Source: “Make Sure an Asthma Action Plan Is on Your Back-to-school Checklist.” Houston Herald. N.p., 05 Aug. 2015. Web. 05 Aug. 2015.
Taking care of asthma: How to spot an attack and how to help
Posted: August 2, 2015 Filed under: Asthma, Emergency Action Plan, Player Safety | Tags: asthma, emergency action plan, player safety, Safety Tag Leave a comment »According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 25 million Americans suffer from asthma — about one in every 12 people. Of those, roughly 7 million are children.
The number of those affected by the disease increases every year, resulting in significant health care expenses. In 2007, asthma cost the U.S. about $56 billion in medical costs, issued school and work days, and early deaths.
Whether you or someone you know suffers from asthma, Danville Regional Medical Center wants to make sure you are prepared to fight asthma this summer.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflamed airways that cause wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing. Asthma attacks occur when certain irritants get into the lungs and cause muscles to tighten around already-inflamed airways. Extra mucous is often produced, which further restricts one’s airways during an attack.
Once diagnosed, asthma is often manageable if patients know what causes their attacks and try to avoid those triggers. However, asthma can limit what some patients can and cannot do.
How to prevent asthma attacks One way to prevent an asthma attack is to avoid triggers. Air pollution, smoke, allergens and mold are all common irritants that may cause an asthma attack. Patients should also diligently take any prescribed medications, develop a safe physical activity plan with their doctor and keep track of their symptoms.
How to recognize an attack If a child at camp starts wheezing while playing outside, how do you know if he or she is simply winded or really suffering from an asthma attack?
While the main signs are coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness, these symptoms could also be the result of a cold, allergies or overexertion. For this reason, it is crucial that asthma sufferers always inform supervisors, colleagues or care providers of the disease so that proper care can be administered if an attack occurs.
What to do when an attack hits Administer the quick-relief medicine, typically an inhaler, and follow the patient’s Asthma Action Plan, a management plan developed by the patient and his or her health care provider. Parents should give any person that provides care to his or her child a copy of his or her Asthma Action Plan. This includes babysitters, sports coaches, school personnel, daycare providers, camp counselors, or anyone else who maybe responsible for your child. If an attack happens, they will need to know how to respond. Adult sufferers should also give their Asthma Action Plan to someone who can assist during an attack, such as a co-worker or exercise partner.
Source: “Taking Care of Asthma: How to Spot an Attack and How to Help.”GoDanRiver.com. N.p., 02 Aug. 2015. Web. 02 Aug. 2015.
Add Asthma, Allergy Plans to Your Back-to-School List
Posted: August 1, 2015 Filed under: Allergies, Asthma, Emergency Action Plan, Youth Sports | Tags: allergies, asthma, player safety, Safety Tag, Youth Sports Leave a comment »If your child has asthma or allergies, make sure his or her teacher, principal and school nurse know about it as part of your back-to-school planning, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) recommends.
“More than 10 million kids under age 18 have asthma, and one in four suffer from respiratory allergies,” ACAAI President Dr. James Sublett said in a news release from the organization.
“Many kids with asthma and food allergies don’t have a plan in place at school. An allergy or asthma action plan doesn’t do any good if it’s not shared with the people who can act on it,” he noted.
The first step is to have allergy/asthma control measures at home, such as lowering exposure to triggers and taking prescribed medications. At school, it’s important for teachers to know your child’s asthma and allergy triggers so that they can help the youngster avoid them in the classroom.
Parents should talk to principals and school nurses about how to handle allergy/asthma emergencies. All 50 states have laws that protect students’ rights to carry and use medicines for asthma and severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) at school.
Children at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions from certain foods or insect stings should carry epinephrine auto-injectors and have them available for immediate use, the ACAAI said.
Children with asthma and allergies should be able to take part in any school sport as long as they follow their doctor’s advice. Parents should ensure their child’s gym teacher and coaches know what to do in case of an asthma emergency.
Many children with food allergies are able to identify what they can and can’t eat, but it’s helpful if other parents and your child’s friends know, too. Some schools have policies restricting treats for special occasions. If your child’s school does not, be sure to tell other parents and children what types of foods your child must avoid.
Source: “Add Asthma, Allergy Plans to Your Back-to-School List.” Consumer HealthDay. N.p., 01 Aug. 2015. Web. 01 Aug. 2015.
Five summer tips to prevent asthma attacks
Posted: July 30, 2015 Filed under: Asthma, Emergency Action Plan, Player Safety | Tags: asthma, player safety, Safety Tag Leave a comment »Summer break in Minnesota is a great time for children to recharge and play outdoors. But it is definitely not a good time to take a break from asthma medications and asthmamanagement.
Children who reduce or stop taking their asthma medications during the summer months are at a greater risk of serious asthma symptoms in the fall.
Even if children aren’t having symptoms, summer vacation doesn’t apply to asthma medications says Dr. Deborah McWilliams, pediatrician and chair of the Division of Community Pediatrics with Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
“It’s very important that people who have asthma continue to take all their asthma medications as prescribed over the summer, even if they don’t have symptoms,” McWilliams said.
“It’s the best way to prevent asthma symptoms from starting and curbing a possible asthma attack.”
Asthma hospitalizations and emergency department visits tend to spike in the fall, possibly due to viral respiratory infections and exposure to fall pollen and outdoor mold.
Children heading back to school also have closer personal contact with many more children, which increases their exposure to infections that can trigger an asthma attack.
Because of this trend, summer is a crucial time for parents to start gearing up for fall by scheduling an asthma ‘check-up’ with a health care provider.
Follow these five tips to have a healthy summer and start of school:
Take your asthma medications everyday - Children who reduce or stop taking their asthma medications during the summer months are at greater risk of serious asthma symptoms in the fall.
Schedule an asthma check-up - Summer is a good time to get ready for fall. Schedule an asthma check-up now with your health care provider for you or your child. It’s especially important for children to see their health care provider before school starts to adjust asthma medications, check your inhaler technique, and get an updated written asthma action plan (AAP) to have at home and give a copy to the school nurse. Talk with your health care provider about your asthma action plan and how to manage asthma on a daily basis before your child heads back to school.
Know and avoid your asthma triggers - Each person’s asthma responds to different triggers. Triggers such as colds (viruses), tobacco smoke, pollen, outdoor air pollution, wood smoke, mold, dander from animals and even cold air can irritate your airways and lead to an asthma attack. Sports and other outdoor activities can make asthma flare up. Work with your health care provider to create a written asthma action plan that lists your asthma triggers, medications and what to do to keep your asthma well controlled throughout the year.
Play with asthma - Be smart when you exercise. Carry your rescue inhaler with you during runs, workouts and team practices. Avoid exercising outdoors on days that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issues an Air Quality Alert. Exercising is good for people who have asthma, but it pays to play it safe.
Pack smart for camp and family travel - If your child is going to camp (day or overnight), tell them about your child’s asthma, their triggers, and give them a copy of the AAP along with any asthma medications. If you’re travelling across country or just for an overnight, make sure all asthma medications are packed, inhalers are full (check the expiration date) and that they’ll last the length of the trip.
Source: “Five Summer Tips to Prevent Asthma Attacks.” KVLY RSS. N.p., 30 July 2015. Web. 30 July 2015.
Before School Starts, Train Everyone’s Brains for Allergies and Asthma
Posted: July 14, 2015 Filed under: Allergies, Asthma, Player Safety | Tags: allergies, asthma, player safety, Safety Tag Leave a comment »ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL. (July 14, 2015) – You may have been thinking through your child’s back-to-school allergy plan since school let out in spring. But unless everyone your child deals with at school knows his symptoms and triggers, your plan won’t help keep allergies and asthma under control.
“More than 10 million kids under age 18 have asthma, and one in four suffer from respiratory allergies,” said allergist James Sublett, MD, FACAAI, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “Many kids with asthma and food allergies don’t have a plan in place at school. An allergy or asthma action plan doesn’t do any good if it’s not shared with the people who can act on it.”
Following is a list from ACAAI of people at your child’s school you should work with to keep allergies and asthma under control.
Teacher Teacher – While your child’s teacher is the first line of defense at school in helping reduce sniffing, wheezing and sneezing, the right systems must be established at home before your son or daughter gets on the bus. If your child takes an allergy or asthma medication, make sure they take them at home, and that good avoidance measures are set up to keep their triggers under control. If your child’s teacher knows your child’s triggers, she may be able to help them steer clear in the classroom as well.
Too cool for school? Nah. – Discuss how to handle emergencies with the school principal and school nurse. Since 2010, all 50 states have laws protecting students’ rights to carry and use asthma and anaphylaxis medications at school. Children who are at risk for a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) from certain foods or insect stings should have epinephrine auto-injectors immediately available for treatment. Be sure your child and school staff know how to use emergency medications.
Put me in Coach! – Playground games, physical education class and after-school sports can trigger exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Children with asthma and allergies should be able to participate in any sport they choose, provided their allergist’s advice is followed. Asthma symptoms during exercise may indicate poorly-controlled asthma. Make sure your child’s coach or physical education teacher knows what to do in case of an asthma-related event.
ABC, easy as 1-2-3 – Kids with food allergies are often very good at identifying what they can and can’t eat, but it helps if other parents (such as the room parent) and your child’s friends know too. Your child’s school may have a policy about bringing in treats for special occasions. If they don’t, you’ll want to make other parents and kids aware of what’s off-limits.
Future’s so bright – Your child with allergies or asthma should be under the care of a board-certified allergist. An allergist can determine what is causing symptoms and show you how to avoid triggers. For children with particularly bothersome allergies, an allergist may prescribe immunotherapy (allergy shots) which can modify and prevent allergy development. Kids who have asthma who see an allergist have a 77 percent reduction in lost time from school.
Source: “Before School Starts, Train Everyone’s Brains for Allergies and Asthma.” Before School Starts, Train Everyone’s Brains for Allergies and Asthma. N.p., 14 July 2015. Web. 14 July 2015.
Summer brings hard breathing
Posted: July 13, 2015 Filed under: Asthma, Player Safety | Tags: asthma, player safety Leave a comment »By JESSICA LAWS
BELLEVILLE - It’s the air they breathe that can cause those who suffer with asthma and other breathing ailments a world of struggle.
Asthma, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, ‘is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.’
Kids and adults of all ages suffer with asthma and, if severe enough, can need the use a reliever inhaler.
But not all student-aged children have had access to their medication as shown in the 2012 death of 12-year-old Ryan Gibbons.
Gibbons suffered from an asthma attack at school while his puffer was kept in the principal’s office.
However, they weren’t able to get the asthma medication to Gibbons in time to save his life.
Lola McMurter, special events co-ordinator of the Lung Association in Belleville, said this is all about to change as a new law in Ryan’s honour has passed in April 2015.
“I feel that long ago, there should have been some sort of asthma action plan in schools. This is a huge milestone,” McMurter said.
Ryan’s Law, also known as Bill 20, was passed by the Ontario legislature on April 30.
Ryan’s Law now ensures asthma-friendly schools.
“I haven’t heard anything from the school boards… they are waiting to hear from the ministry,” said McMurter.
However, school boards have until January 2016 to implement their asthma plans.
Children under the age of 16 will need the permission of a parent to have their inhalers within reach while those over the age of 16 don’t need parental consent.
McMurter said September is the time of year that sees the highest spike in asthma-related cases at the hospital.
In Hastings and Prince Edward counties, the leading cause of hospitalization for those aged zero to nine is respiratory disease.
Joanna Mestre, health promoter at the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit said respiratory health is a leading cause of death and hospitalization in this area.
“How many are directly related to the heat we cannot say but hospitals in Ontario tend to see spikes in respiratory visits and admissions on hot days,” she said.
One factor of asthma is the heat and, with that, comes the smog.
Fifty per cent of the smog comes up from the United States, explained McMurter.
Smog is defined in general terms by the Lung Association as ‘a mixture of air pollutants and tends to be the worst on hot, sunny days as a result of high concentrations of ozone.’
However, as explained by Mestre, the quality of air residents breathe needs to be considered both indoors and outdoors.
And with 80 to 90 per cent of Canadians spending more and more time indoors making their homes as safe as possible is extremely important.
That’s why the Lung Association has put together an interactive website called yourhealthyhome.ca.
As time progresses, and with more research being done, radon gas has become a silent killer and the second leading cause of lung cancer.
“It’s a colourless, odourless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment,” said McMurter.
Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soils and rock and can enter into residences through tiny openings in the foundation, she explained.
Health Canada has lowered the guidelines to 200 becquerels per cubic metre for radon as it is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
“Most people know somebody who has died of lung cancer who has never smoked. So radon gas could have been a contributing factor in that, and most likely was,” said McMurter.
The yourhealthyhome.ca website states test kits are available from hardware stores as well as online.
But whether there are concerns about indoor or outdoor air quality, McMurter said, the Lung Association is there to help.
“We have a ton of reading on any of these programs, if there is anything you want to know we have a pamphlet for it,” she said.
For more information please visit yourhealthyhome.ca or www.on.lung.ca.
Because the air we breathe affects us all.
Source: Lawson, Jessica. “Summer Brings Hard Breathing.” The Belleville Intelligencer. N.p., 13 July 2015. Web. 13 July 2015.
Asthma action plan essential
Posted: July 7, 2015 Filed under: Asthma, Player Safety, Youth Sports | Tags: asthma, player safety, Safety Tag, Youth Sports Leave a comment »The Asthma Society advises people with the condition attending festivals be prepared.
Have a plan in place to manage your asthma or hay fever and know where the medical tents are.
Remember your medication - bring a backup supply if attending a festival or event
Eat well, avoid or reduce alcohol intake and never smoke.
Tell your friends, make sure they know what to do in an emergency, and ask them to pitch your tent as pollen and spores may be disturbed by this activity.
Have an asthma attack card with you at all times, available at asthma.ie/emergency.
Possible triggers for hay fever include weather changes, pollen, moulds, dust, air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, aerosols and dry ice, exercise and alcohol - all of which are common at a festival or outdoor event.
You can check daily pollen levels either at Asthma.ie or by using the organisation’s free iPhone app. If symptoms don’t improve, call a doctor or 999/112. If you don’t have an inhaler, go straight to the medical tent.
Source: “Asthma Action Plan Essential - Independent.ie.” Independent.ie. N.p., 07 July 2015. Web. 07 July 2015.
Working Together to Prevent Injuries in Youth Sports
Posted: June 30, 2015 Filed under: Allergies, Asthma, Chronic Illness, Coaching, Concussions, Dehydration, Emergency Action Plan, Football, Heat Stroke, High School, Lawsuit, Little League, Player Safety, Soccer, Uncategorized, Volunteer, Youth Hockey, Youth Sports | Tags: Concussions, Education, player safety, Safety Tag, Youth Sports Leave a comment »We’ve all been there: getting hit or knocked down during a game and saying “I’m fine!” instead of taking a seat on the bench and determining whether or not we are really injured. No player wants to let the team down or feel weak for admitting that he or she is hurt and in need of a break, but this mentality can actually hurt a player even more down the line. According to safekids.org, a youth sports injury that results in a visit to the emergency room occurs once every 25 seconds. This adds up to about 3,397 children in the hospital every single day. Safe to say, youth sports injuries are not uncommon and need to be taken seriously. That number would be even higher if more players were willing to admit their pain and take the necessary steps to find out how to heal it, but this would at least prevent further damage or repeated injuries of the same kind from happening. 54 percent of athletes said they have played injured, and 42 percent of athletes have admitted to “hiding or down-playing an injury during a game so they could keep playing”, according to safekids.org. This practice of hiding injuries needs to be curbed so that children stop repeatedly playing on an injury, and putting themselves in even more danger.
At the beginning of the season, players need to be told by the coach to come forward and be honest if they are feeling less than okay and ground rules should be set to agree on how the team will approach injuries. It also becomes the parents’ responsibility to report to the coaches in the event that their child has admitted to feeling pain, or has been diagnosed by a doctor and given specific instructions about how to treat an injury. Similarly, the coach needs to be open with the parent and inform them that their child has been injured during a practice or a game so that the parent can take the necessary steps to keep their child healthy and safe. Considering that 62 percent of organized sports-related injuries occur during practices, according to youthsportssafetyalliance.org, it is clear that many injuries occur when the parent is not around to witness them, making communication necessary.
While the responsibility does lie on the player, we cannot always trust that children will take an injury as seriously as they should or that they will be open with both their coach and parent and admit to one. According to safekids.org, less than half of coaches are certified and know how to prevent and recognize sports injuries, while 53 percent have said they’ve felt “pressure from a parent or player to put an athlete back in the game” after an injury. To make the playing field a safer place, coaches need to be certified or, at the very least, aware of the health issues of their players, just as parents need to focus on their children’s health rather than their goal count.
What all of this comes down to is communication. The gaps between players and parents, players and coaches, and parents and coaches leave room for more harm. A player who tells his parents that his ankle hurt during the last practice and gets a note from the doctor that he should skip gym class should not be playing in their soccer game the next day. The player might not want to tell their coach about this for fear of being benched, but the parent should recognize the importance of resting for their child’s safety and keep the coach informed. Similarly, if a player was complaining of dizziness during practice and had to sit out, the coach should report this to the parent so that they can go to a doctor or keep an eye out for their child. If a coach or a parent doesn’t know there is something wrong with the child, then they have no way of fixing the problem. Where communication stops is where injuries can go from bad to worse. The more aware that parents and coaches are about a player’s injuries, the more help and support they can give. When players, parents, and coaches work together, athletes are kept safer and the team becomes stronger as a whole.
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