Allegry and Asthma Health - New Asthma Assessment Guidelines Released by ATS/ERS

AARC Offers Free Asthma Education Program for Schools

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is offering a free program to schools that want to help their students better control their asthma. Respiratory therapists are currently implementing Peak Performance USA (PPUSA) in schools nationwide, and you can read all about it on the PPUSA web site.

If you are the parent of a school-aged child with asthma, you know what a challenge it is every day. You could make it easier for yourself and your child by bringing PPUSA to your own school. PPUSA works with your children's school to offer the services of Registered Respiratory Therapists in your community who work directly with the school to provide patient-focused education on asthma management.

Each school in the PPUSA program receives demonstration peak flow meters and valved holding chambers at no charge. "The information and equipment was a godsend," says Sarah Daniels, RN, from Davenport North High School.

There is never any charge to schools or the respiratory therapists who use the PPUSA program in your school. You can search Participating RT Departments on the PPUSA web site to look for a respiratory therapy department near you. To get started, print out this article and any pertinent information from the web site — including a respiratory therapy department near your school—then take it to your school administrator/teacher and ask them to work with the respiratory therapy department to implement PPUSA. This no-cost program could help your children—and your neighbors'—better control their asthma every day.

Sheri Kincaid, BA, RRT, who recently helped the Osage Nation schools in Oklahoma implement PPUSA, says, "By educating our students—teaching them how to manage their disease—and giving the school system a solid background on asthma with in-services and the demonstration kits, we will be helping many students have a healthier school year."