Asthma Awareness Month

Event Planning Kit



How to Plan an

Asthma Education Event

at your State Capitol

May is Asthma Awareness Month!

There is no better time to promote asthma education, including
management of environmental triggers. Join EPA to plan an
educational event in your state's capitol building. To do this,
you will need the support of government officials and local
communities. Things to do include:

T Contact your state legislator to sponsor your event.
His/Her office can help you obtain space in the state
capitol building. You will most likely be asked to
coordinate details with the capitol's operations office.

T Sponsor education activities in the state capitol
building. Partner with other local organizations
involved in asthma education in order to pool resources
and increase attention and publicity for the event.

T Issue an asthma proclamation (see template on
page 13).

T Plan a health fair providing free asthma screenings
and education on environmental asthma triggers
and management. Recruit local sponsors to provide
giveaways or funding to support the health fair and
assist in setting up asthma screenings. Potential
sponsors include area doctors, respiratory care
departments, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

T Hold a press conference to announce the state's

partnership as well as encourage the state as a whole to
participate.

T Issue press releases and publicize your event in local
newsletters, the state's Web site, and local media.

T Work with the state's press office to set up interviews
with experts in the field, people who have asthma, and
government officials. The press office can also set up
meetings for state officials and local organizations to
visit schools and daycare facilities to promote asthma
management.

T Remember to plan your event well in advance to
address any security concerns.

Event Spotlight: World Asthma Day
Legislative Breakfast, Ohio Asthma
Coalition

Where and when did the event take place?

The Hyatt at Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio, on
May 1, 2007

What happened at the event?

The Ohio Asthma Coalition (OAC) held a networking
breakfast for legislators and coalition members. After
remarks by the chair of the Ohio Asthma Coalition and
the introduction of the legislators and legislative aids,
participants engaged in conversations and generated ideas
to promote improving asthma care and management.
How was the event organized?

The OAC advocacy committee was essential in the event
planning as they utilized their knowledge of the legislative
process and their connection with the legislators and aids.
A resource table with various EPA asthma materials was
also set up to allow people to gather information and
resources on asthma.

How did this event help raise asthma awareness?

The 75 attendees were able to discuss ways that they
could work together and create awareness of the
importance and impact of asthma on Ohioans. After this
event, the committee increased their efforts to form a
legislative caucus to meet and talk with the coalition on an
ongoing basis.

Sponsor:

Ohio Asthma Coalition
And remember...

T Distribute asthma materials within state offices
and to the general public. The following are some
of EPA's materials available to you in both English
and Spanish:

"Clear Your Home of Asthma Triggers" brochure;

"Take the Smoke-Free Home Pledge" brochure
and poster;

"Dusty and His Asthma Triggers" children's
funbook;

"Breathing Freely: Controlling Asthma Triggers"
video;

"Help Your Child Gain Control Over Asthma"
booklet;

Asthma public service announcements.



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