ftRTHUK is produced by WGBH Boston and CINAR. Funding for ARTHUR is provided by a Ready-To-Learn Television Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Education, through the Public Broadcasting Service and public television viewers. Corporate funding is provided by Libby's® Juicy Juice®, Post?Alpha-Bits® Cereal, and LEGO® ------- All About Asthma What Is asthma? What can trigger an asthma attack? How can you stay active and healthy if you have asthma? To introduce this unit, show the ARTHUR episode "Buster's Breathless." Share the background information below as you do the classroom activities on page 3. ar::: ASTHMA STATISTICS • I in every 13 school-aged children has asthma. • 1 in every 5 pediatric emergency room visits is related to asthma. • Asthma accounts for 10 million missed school days each year. Asthma is the number one long- term disease among children. AH About Asthma Background Information What is asthma? People with asthma have very sensitive airways in their lungs. Triggers such as dust or mold can cause the airways to swell and the muscles around the airways to constrict, making it difficult to breathe. This can make the person cough, wheeze, or feel tightness in the chest. While there is no cure for asthma, with proper treatment people with asthma can lead healthy and active lives. What causes an asthma episode? Many things can trigger an asthma episode. Common indoor triggers include: tobacco smoke, dust, mold, pets, cockroaches, and strong odors and fumes. Outdoor triggers include: pollens, pollution, cold air, and changes in temperature. Intense crying or laughing, colds and viral infections can also cause asthma attacks. It is important for a child with asthma to know his/her own triggers and how to avoid them. For helpful tips on minimizing exposure to triggers, visit the Grown-Ups area of the ARTHUR Web site: pbskids.org/arthur or order the EPA publication, "Clear Your Home of Asthma Triggers." Call 1-800-438-4318 or visit the EPA Web site: epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asthma.html. HOW IS asthma treated? Many children with asthma take a daily controller medicine to prevent asthma attacks. They also use quick-relief medicine to combat asthma episodes. Exercise can trigger asthma attacks, so some children take medicine before they go out to play, especially in cold weather. Many asthma medicines come in the form of a spray that goes directly to the lungs, dispensed by an inhaler. Family and school communication. Because asthma is so wide- spread, it is important for all families to know about the disease. Students with asthma should have an Asthma Treatment Plan listing the medicines they should take hi various situations and the people to contact. "Tips for Parents" and an Asthma Treatment Plan are provided in English and Spanish (pages 6-8). They are also available in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog on the ARTHUR Web site: pbskids.org/arthur (click Grown-Ups). This guide was produced by the Educational Programming and Outreach department of WGBH CONTRIBUTING WRITER Bruce Cox, BSRC, RET, Island Hospital, Anacortes, WA ADVISORS Michelle M. Cloutier, M.D., Director, Asthma Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center Brenda Doroski, Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The contents of this guide were supported under the Ready-To-Learn Television Program, P/R Award Number R295A00002, as administered by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, US. Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government © 2002 WGBH Educational Foundat!on.AII rights reserved.AII characters and underly- ing materials (including artwork) copyright by Marc Brown. Arthur, D.W., and the other Marc Brown characters are trademarks of Marc Brown."PBS KIDS" Is a trademark of PBS.AII third party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Used with permission. ------- Activities Watch and discuss "Buster's Breathless." Ask children: • What happened when Buster was reading Arthur's old joke books? • What did the doctor tell Buster and his mom? • Francine was afraid of catching asthma germs from Buster. What would you tell her? • Can Buster still run around and play with his friends? How can he help himself not get asthma attacks? All About Asthma. Distribute page 4. Encourage students to share their own experiences and knowledge about asthma. Invite the school nurse or a parent with asthma to visit the class and show devices such as an inhaler and a peak flow meter. (These things can also be seen on "A Word from Dr. Griffith," the video segment following "Buster's Breathless.") What does asthma feel like? Give each child a drinking straw. Ask children to breathe through the straw and give a "thumbs up" sign if it is easy to breathe, or a "thumbs down" sign if it is hard. Then ask them to slowly pinch the straw as they continue breathing, and again give the thumbs up or down sign. Explain that having asthma can feel like breathing through a pinched straw. Be aware of children's breath- ing during this demonstration, especially children with asthma. Environmental triggers. Talk about common asthma triggers at home, at school, and outside (see page 2). Try these discussion starters: • Pets with fur or feathers can cause asthma attacks. What are some pets that might be better choices for a kid with asthma? • Imagine that your friend has asthma. You love playing together after school, but being around your dog makes your friend start to wheeze. How could you and your friend solve this problem? • Imagine that chalk dust bothers some of your classmates with asthma. How could you make the classroom a healthier place for them? • What things collect dust in a bedroom? (rugs, stuffed animals, blankets, etc.) How can Buster's mom help reduce the dust in his bedroom? Family Activity Sheets. Discuss the pictures in the maze, "Stay Active with Asthma." Let children take the maze home to share with their families. Also send home "Tips for Parents" and the "Asthma Treatment Plan" (pages 5-8). Helping OUt. List things a child should do during an asthma attack: stop, sit down and relax, drink some water, tell a friend or adult. Ask students: How can you help when a friend has an asthma attack? Reflect and draw. Have children draw pictures and write or dictate sentences about something they learned about asthma, how it feels to have asthma, or ways to make the school more trigger-free. Make a class Big Book from the students' work. ft- ABC's of Asthma by Kim Gosselin jt and Terry Ravanelli t - I'm Tougher Than Asthma by Alden ^"'R. Carter and SiriM. Carter |; The Lion Who Had Asthma by I: Jonathan London £ Taking Asthma to School and Taking £—Asthma to Camp by Kim Gosselin I; .and Terry Ravanelli Buster's Breathless Will Buster's friends ever treat him the same after they learn that he has asthma? Watch the episode to find out. Then stay tuned for "A Word from Dr. -Griffith," a visit with two healthy, active boys with asthma and their doctor. IP • "Buster's Breathless" is included on the I home video Arthur Goes to the Doctor. jr=- To order this or any other ARTHUR video, £ call I -800-949-8670. For a special 10% £" educator discount, mention the code f "ARTEDUC." (Offer expires'August 31,2002.) All About Asthma f\ ------- * ------- 9tay Active with AethtodJ Help Buster and Arthur make it to the soccer game on time! When you come to a pair of pictures, choose the safe path. Watch out for the triggers! Ayuda a Buster y a Arthur a llegar a, tiempo a su partido defutbol. Cada vez que llegues a unpar de dibujos, escoge el camino seguro. jCuidado con los activadores! ------- Learning About Asthma One of every thirteen children has asthma. During an asthma attack, the airways in the lungs swell and the muscles around them constrict, making it hard to breathe. Things such as smoke, dust, pets, and mold can cause asthma attacks. There is no cure for asthma, but with proper care and medicine, children with asthma can lead active, healthy lives. If your child has any of the following symptoms, he or she may have asthma. Talk to your doctor to find out more. • Wheezing, a whistling noise made while breathing • Chronic cough, especially at night, after exercise, or in cold weather • Shortness of breath, especially when exercising If your child has asthma, fill out an Asthma Treatment Plan and give copies to your child's teacher, coach, childcare provider, babysitter, etc. so they know what to do and who to call if your child has an asthma attack. €> 2002 WGBH Educational Foundation. AH rights reserved. Underlying TM/© Marc Brown. Permission is granted for reproduction of this printed material for educational use only. Dates sabre el aswa Uno de cada trece nifios padece de asma. Durante un ataque de asma, las vias respiratorias en los pulmones se hinchan y los musculos que las rodean se aprietan, dificultando asi la respiraci6n. El humo, el polvo, los animales domesticos y el moho pueden causar ataques de asma. El asma no se puede curar, pero con el debido cuidado y medicamentos, los nifios con asma pueden llevar vidas activas y saludables. Si el nino presenta cualquiera de estos sintomas, puede padecer de asma. Consulte con el medico para enterarse de mas detalles. • Resuellos, se oye un silbido cuando respira • Tos crdnica, sobre todo de noche, despu6s de hacer ejercicio o cuando hace frio • Palta de aliento, sobre todo cuando hace ejercicio Si el nino tiene asma, complete el formulario Tlan para tratar el asma' y de copias del mismo al maestro, entrenador, cuidador, ninera, etc. para que sepan que hacer y a quien llamar si al nino le da un ataque de asma. © 2002 WGBH Educational Foundation. Dcrcchos reservados.TM y © subyacentes a nombre de Marc Brown. Se autoriza la reproduction de este imprest) solo para fines cducativos. AH About Asthma E"i|ish/sPanish ------- Asthma Treatment Plan Plan para tratar el Child/Nino NAME/NOMBRE DATE OF BIRTH/FECHA DE NACIMIENTO Parents, Guardians, Emergency Contacts/Padres, tutores, contactos en caso de urgencia NAME/NOMBRE RELATIONSHIP/PARENTESCO ADDRESS/DIRECCION F.HPNE..(Ji.0,M.R)./.TJ.kl.|Fp.N.9..i.EN..?.A?Al (Wp.RK)/(EN EL TRABAJpj NAME/NOMBRE RELATIONSHIP/PARENTESCO ADDRESS/DIRECCION r.HP.NJ..(.Ho.M..E.)./.J.E.kl?P.N.9..L?. NAME/NOMBRE RELATIONS HIP /PARENTESCO ADDRESS/DIRECCION P.hPJ!!Ji..{H.9.ME}./TE.kl.?ON_0£EN __CASA)(WORK) /(EN EL TRABAJO) Doctor/Medico NAME/NOMBRE ADDRESS/DIRECCI6N PHONE/JELEFON9 HOSPITAL/H OSPITAL Triggers / Act ivado res Which things cause your child to have asthma episodes?/,;Que cosas le producer! episodios de asma al nino? n Smoke/Humo D Molds /Mohos D Animals /Animates D Exercise/E/erc/c/o D Strong odors and fumes/0/ores / vapores fuertes COMMENTS/COMENTARIOS: U Chalk dust/Po/vo de t/zo (gis) D Dust and Dust mites/Po/vo / acaros D PoIlens/Po/en D Changes in temperature/Comb/os de temperature U Other/Otros: DATE/FECHA DOCTOR'S SIGNATURE/FIRMA DEL MEDICO PARENT'S SIGNATURE/FIRMA DE PADRE English/Spanish W All About Asthr ------- JL Treatment Plan Plan par-a tr-atar- el agwa NAME/NOMBRE GREEN ZONE: Doing Fine! ZONA VERDE: jVas bien! Breathing is good./Respira bien. No cough or wheeze./No lose ni resolla. Can work and play./Puede trabajar y jugar. If A PEAK FLOW METER IS USED Peak flow: more than (80% or more of best peak flow) SI USASTE EL ESPIRdMETRO Flujo maxima: mas de (80 % o mas del me/or flujo maxima) Use confrol medicine every day to stay well (if pij-e^c'Hbed by doctor-). Usa el remedio de control diaHo para e5taf biehXsi asf te ;lo r-eceto el medico). Medicine Medicamento How Much? iCuanto? When? iCuando? Before sports or exercise/Antes de practicar un deporte o hacer ejercicio Medicine How Much? When? Medicamento ^Cuanto? iCuando? YELLOW (ZONE: Caution ZONAAMARILLA: Precaution Use quick-relief medicine. Usa el medicamento de alivio rctpidd. Cough, wheeze, chest tightness, or waking at night because of asthma Tos, resue//os, opresion en el pecho o despertarse de noche par causa del asma Peak flow: more than (50% - 80% or more of best peak flow) Flujo maxima: mas de (50 al 80 % o mas del mejor flujo maxima) Medicine Medicamento How Much? iCuanto? When? iCuando? If you need to use your quick relief medicine more than twice a week or wake up more than once a week because of your asthma, call your doctor. Si tienes que usar el medicamento para alivio rapido mas de dos veces par semana o te despiertas mas de una vez par semana debido al asma, llama al medico. RED ZONE: Danger! ZONA ROJA: jPeligro! Very short of breath. Quick-relief medicines have not helped. Muy falto de aliento. Los medicamentos de alivio rapido no ayudan. Peak flow, under (less than 50% of best peak flow) Flujo maxima: menos de (menos del 50 % del mejor flujo maxima) GET HELP fR'OM A POCTOR NOVv/J /ACUPE AL MEP/CO AHORA M/SMO] Medicine Medicamento How Much? iCuanto? When? iCuando? Go to the hospital or call 911 if you are still in the red zone after 15 minutes and haven't reached a doctor. /Acude al hospital o llama al 911 si permaneces en la zona roja mas de IS minutos y no te has comunicado con el medico. RED ZONE DANGER SIGNS/SENALES DE PELIGRO DE LA ZONA ROJA Can't walk or talk well./No puede caminar ni hablar bien. Lips or fingernails are blue./Los labios o las uhas se le han puesto azules. Call 911 NOW! Llama al 911 jYA! A I! About Asthma English/Spanish ------- |