Date: Fri 30-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

health-asthma-Lung-Association

Full Text:

Coping With Chronic Asthma: Pilot Program Helps Middle Gate Children

(with photo)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

Middle Gate School children who suffer from chronic asthma are breathing

easier this week - as are their concerned parents - thanks to an educational

program co-sponsored by the American Lung Association of Connecticut and

Danbury Hospital.

"It's been very helpful. Now we feel less scared. We're not alone," said the

father of 11-year-old Middle Gate student Michael Kala.

"Our daughter was only recently diagnosed," said parent John Schriever. "This

program helped us. The more you learn, the more comfortable you are."

"We had been out of the loop. Now we're informed," said the mother of student

Christine Mason.

Under a special grant from the Danbury Hospital Development Fund, youngsters

in local schools who suffer from chronic asthma will be taking part next fall

in the nationwide "Open Airways for Schools" program sponsored by the American

Lung Association.

The educational course is designed to teach school children how to prevent

asthma episodes and emergencies and help schools create partnerships in asthma

care with their physicians, nurses, school personnel, families and others.

The voluntary program will be available to all children between the ages of 8

and 11 who have been diagnosed by their school nurse and who have been given

permission to participate in the course by their parents.

An Early Start

At Middle Gate, the asthma awareness program was taught by school nurse Nancy

Benzing.

"Newtown had already shown enough interest to run [a pilot program] this

spring," said Angela Testa, spokesman for the American Lung Association.

Having students know how to cope with their asthma during their hours in

school was one goal of the program, explained Mrs Benzing, who also led the

brief graduation ceremony that was held in the school cafeteria, Wednesday,

May 21.

Mrs Benzing had been meeting with the children during six weekly 40-minute

sessions before school, she said. She thanked the children's parents who

cooperated by driving them to school early on those special days.

"The families were very supportive," Mrs Benzing said.

She added there were other children who might also have benefited from the

program but, for various reasons, they had not signed up.

"It's not always easy for parents to schedule around their work or home

demands," Mrs Benzing said.

Peak Flow Meters Awarded

After getting their special "Open Airways" T-shirts and posing for a group

picture, the Middle Gate students each received a Certificate of Good Asthma

Management and a device for use during school to measure the movement of air

through their airways, called a peak flow meter.

"They learn how to measure their own flow rates. We've practiced taking

measurements on ourselves before and after physical exercise so they know what

their optimum rates are," said Mrs Benzing.

"If they find they really need to take medicine, they'll know. If they need to

see a doctor, they'll know that, too," she added.

She explained that a reading of "green" on the flow meter means it's OK to

pursue normal activity. "Yellow" means use caution and take your medicine.

"Red" means it's time to call the doctor.

Hopeful Signs At

Danbury Hospital

Asthma affects over 55,850 children under the age of 18 in Connecticut, with

approximately one-third of those being elementary school-aged. It is the

number one cause of school absences attributed to chronic conditions,

according to an American Lung Association statement.

The "Open Airways for Schools" program will be formally launched this coming

fall in all area elementary schools, including Newtown and surrounding towns.

In Danbury, the asthma awareness program has already made a difference, said

Gregory Dworkin, MD, the hospital's pediatric pulmonologist and a medical

adviser to Open Airways.

More children are learning to manage their asthma symptoms and avoid episodes

and emergencies. Education efforts are working, Dr Dworkin added.

In 1992, Danbury Hospital had 123 admissions for asthma. In 1994, the number

was down to 74. The greater Danbury area also fares four percent better than

the national average for asthma-related hospitalizations.

"When our children are home sick from school, it impacts the family," Dr

Dworkin said.

"Children who are up all night coughing go to school tired and can't possibly

do well. If we can help kids prevent asthmatic episodes, we can keep them in

school."