Open Airways for Schools
The American Lung Association of DC offers a free asthma education program called Open Airways for Schools (OAS) that is specially designed for children in the third through fifth grades. OAS is an excellent opportunity for those with asthma to learn how to become more independent in managing their asthma, and to have group support from other classmates who share similar experiences.
The OAS program:
- increases parental involvement and awareness of asthma
- improves students’ asthma management skills
- decreases absenteeism rates
- decreases visits to the emergency room, clinics and physician
School nurses, respiratory therapists, nursing students, parents, teachers, and coaches are trained to implement the program in elementary schools.