CDC Releases Asthma-Friendly Schools Toolkit
May 29, 2008 -
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a new toolkit to assist advocates at the district and school levels in informing schools and communities about the importance of asthma-friendly schools.
The toolkit, Initiating Change: Creating an Asthma-Friendly School, includes a brief video on making schools asthma-friendly, tools for facilitating a showing of the video in PTA or school board meetings, a questionnaire to determine a school’s strength in addressing the needs of asthmatic students, and many other asthma resources. The Creating an Asthma-Friendly School video can be viewed online or ordered at no charge.
Approximately five million school-aged children have asthma and it is the leading cause of school absenteeism. Schools should ensure that students with asthma have access to the appropriate medical resources and that asthma management plans are implemented. Improving indoor air quality, removing mold, and banning tobacco use are a few of the ways to make schools more asthma-friendly and reduce the incidences of absences due to illness.
To obtain copies:
Request by email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Call toll-free: 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
When ordering, specify if you would like a copy of the Creating an Asthma-Friendly School DVD or the Initiating Change: Creating an Asthma-Friendly School toolkit (which includes the DVD and a CD-ROM of all toolkit items).