American Lung Association of Utah

School-based Asthma Education

The American Lung Association’s “Open Airways for Schools” program is an innovative asthma education program designed to help children learn to manage their asthma so they spend more time in the classroom and less time in the emergency room.

Did You Know?

• More than 64,000 Utah children have been diagnosed with asthma.

• Asthma is a debilitating disease that causes shortness of breath and sometimes results in death.

• Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism from chronic illness.

• Asthma among children has increased 58% in the last 10 years.

• Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15.

Children with asthma who do not know how to take care of it are at serious risk.

That’s why the Open Airways for Schools program was developed. It was tested in elementary schools nationwide and proven effective in reducing the number of asthma episodes and the duration of these episodes, and in improving academic performance.

The program teaches children, ages 8 - 11, to better manage their asthma through six 40-miniute interactive lessons. Children with asthma are brought together during or after school to learn these skills.

For more information please contact Cherissa by phone or email at cwood@lungutah.org