State Programs

The Coach's Clipboard
The Asthma Slide rule
Healthy Home Head Start
Tools for Schools
Clean Air Zone Idaho

 

The Coach's Clipboard

The Coach's Asthma Clipboard was developed by the Minnesota Department of Health and is part of the Winning with Asthma program. It is said that on a team of 15 players, at least one will have asthma. The program was created so that coaches could learn about asthma, how it affects the level of play of their athletes, and how they can work with their athletes to help them manage asthma symptoms while helping them play to the best of their abilities.
The program consists of a 30 minute online training focusing on asthma basics, asthma medications, ways to prevent exercise-induced asthma, and steps to take when athletes are experiencing asthma exacerbations. Those who finish the program receive a booklet, a coach's clipboard and laminated card detailing what they should do during an asthma attack. Postcards, flyers, and posters are also available for the program.
The State Asthma Program plans to introduce the Coach's Clipboard program to all seven health districts in the state by the end of this summer. This program can be used by city leagues, junior high and high school sports teams, Physical Education Instructors of all levels, and any other organization interested in learning how to monitor athletes who deal with asthma related issues.

Please visit www.winningwithasthma.org for more information.

The Asthma Slide Rule

Due to increased urbanization, subsequent air pollution issues related to vehicle emissions from an increase in vehicle miles traveled and an increasing number of forest fires; there is an immediate need for community outreach to notify those who have respiratory issues of potential health dangers during days of high levels of ambient air pollution.
Currently, The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has a six-tiered color system that notifies the public of the air quality level, but there are no self-help tools in place to recommend what level of activity in which an individual should participate based on their level of respiratory health. To address this issue, Boise State University (Dr. Reischl/Dr. Colby) and DEQ have developed an asthma slide rule to be used by teachers and school administrators to determine the level of physical activity in which a child should participate.
The slide rule is currently in the final stages of a pilot testing process. The pilot test is being implemented by DEQ and two health districts in different parts of the state and will include over 15 schools. The pilot testing process will include a feedback session on the usability of the slide rule and a training session on how to properly use the tool. An evaluation tool has also been created as part of the pilot testing process and results from the survey will be taken into consideration before a final slide rule is created and disseminated throughout the state. This project should be completed in the near future.

 

Healthy Home Head Start

The Healthy Homes Head Start curriculum is adapted from the American Lung Association's Master Home Environmentalist program. Head Start staff use the home assessment tool in homes of clients who have children with asthma or allergies. This assessment allows for Head Start staff to establish what asthma and allergy triggers are present in the home.
With this information, staff can work with the family to identify low cost or no cost ways to reduce asthma and allergy triggers in the home. Health District Asthma Coordinators throughout Idaho are currently working with Head Start Centers in their areas to ensure the program is available to as many households as possible. Currently, eight Head Start centers in Idaho are participating in the Healthy Homes Head Start program.

If you would like more information about this program or to find out if it is available in your area, please contact your local Health District Asthma Coordinator.

· Boise - 375-5211
· Caldwell - 455-5321
· Twin Falls - 734-5900 ext. 5988
· Pocatello - 478-6316
· Idaho Falls - 522-0310
· Lewiston - 799-1368
· Hayden - 415-5142

 

 

Tools for Schools

The Tools for Schools program was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help school officials identify, solve, and prevent indoor air quality issues within school buildings in an effort to reduce triggers that exacerbate asthma symptoms. According to the EPA, nearly 1 in 13 school-age children have asthma. National statistics report that asthma is also the leading cause of missed school days and responsible for over 10 million missed school days a year.
The school assessments allow evaluators of the schools to determine what changes need to be made to improve indoor air quality, thus resulting in a reduction in asthma triggers. Upon completion of the evaluation, schools are given a list of items that can be used to improve their indoor air quality at a low cost. To date, a total of 43 schools have committed to take part in the program for 2008.

For more information about Tools for schools or to find out how your school can take part in the program, please contact you local Health District Asthma Coordinator.

· Boise - 375-5211
· Caldwell - 455-5321
· Twin Falls - 734-5900 ext. 5988
· Pocatello - 478-6316
· Idaho Falls - 522-0310
· Lewiston - 799-1368
· Hayden - 415-5142

 

 

Clean Air Zone Idaho

The state asthma program is collaborating with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the seven local health districts to promote the Clean Air Zone Idaho program. Clean Air Zone Idaho is Idaho's voluntary program to reduce children's exposure to diesel/vehicle exhaust through anti-idling programs, alternative fuels, and cleaner technologies for school buses. Schools are also able to apply for grant money from DEQ to retrofit old diesel school buses to make them burn cleaner and pollute less.
Children are especially sensitive to air pollution as their lungs are still developing coupled with the fact that they breathe at a faster rate than adults which allows more potential toxins to enter the lings. By reducing idling on school grounds, students are exposed to less exhaust and pollutants from idling vehicles. Idaho DEQ is in its 4th year of working with individual schools, school districts, and daycares.
Idaho DEQ has a list of schools and school districts that have joined Clean Air Zone Idaho. The local health district coordinators are helping to promote this program by contacting schools in their areas that are not currently involved in the program and educating them on how to join. Schools are directed to the Idaho DEQ website for more information and/or to sign up as a Clean Air Zone Idaho school/district.
As of January 2008, 295 schools and child care facilities (including 31 school districts) have joined the program. By joining the Clean Air Zone Idaho program, schools will receive street signs reminding parents and bus drivers to turn off their engines, a tool kit with information to pass on to parents, air quality lesson plans, and The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up books for elementary school libraries.
Health districts are also contacting local businesses to promote the Clean Air Zone Idaho Communities, Businesses, and Facilities program. This program is similar to the school program; however it focuses more on the community. Non-school facilities receive signs with pictures of cars instead of buses, but the message remains "turn off your engine". Currently, 33 communities, 12 businesses and two universities in Idaho participate in the Clean Air Zone program.

If you would like more information on the Clean Air Zone Idaho program, please contact your local Health District Asthma Coordinator (refer to phone listing above) or log on to www.deq.idaho.gov/air/educ_tools.htm for educational tools or www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/index.htm for information on the Clean School Bus USA Program.
You may also contact your Idaho Department of Environmental Control Regional Office at the following number to find out how you can take advantage of these free resources.

· Boise - 373-0550
· Coeur d'Alene - 769-1422
· Idaho Falls - 528-2650
· Lewiston - 799-4370
· Pocatello - 236-6160
· Twin Falls - 736-2190

 

Programs Coming Soon

Printed Material

New asthma information in the form of pamphlets, posters and quick reference guides will be available soon. Information will be specific to the following topics:

· Children and Asthma
· Exercise and Asthma
· Adults and Asthma
· Workplace Asthma
· Basic Asthma Education
· Asthma Triggers in the Home

The State Asthma Program is also working on an asthma trend report. To date, the program surveillance team and epidemiologist have collected the data necessary to complete the report and the information is being formatted into a user friendly design by a marketing specialist.
The trend report will contain all available data in relation to asthma from the state of Idaho from the years 1999-2007. Comparisons and sources of data have been expanded to produce a useful document that will be used to address the issues specific to Idaho's asthma problem. This report will be available by August of 2008.

The State Asthma Program is also working on obtaining a quick reference asthma management pocket guide for physicians that will contain the new 2007 NHLBI Guidelines along with a user friendly Asthma Action Plan. The Action Plan and pocket guide should be available this fall.

 

Open Airways for Schools

The American Lung Association's (ALA) Open Airways for Schools is an interactive program designed to empower 8-11 year old children and their parents to take control of asthma. The program can be taught by health professionals or by trained volunteers and consists of six, 40 minute lessons taught during the school day.
Currently the State Asthma Program is working with the ALA to implement this program by the start of the upcoming school season.
Local Health District Asthma Coordinators will be helping to facilitate the program throughout the state and recruiting schools to take part in the program.

To find out more information about Open Airways, please logon to http://www.lungidaho.org/asthma/open-airways-for-schools/ or call your local Health District Asthma Coordinator to find out if the Program is available in your area.

· Boise - 375-5211
· Caldwell - 455-5321
· Twin Falls - 734-5900 ext. 5988
· Pocatello - 478-6316
· Idaho Falls - 522-0310
· Lewiston - 799-1368
· Hayden - 415-5142

 

 

 

The Asthma Coalition of Idaho (ACI), disclaims any responsibility for any action taken by viewers as a result of their interpretation of information provided. Viewers are encouraged to discuss medical treatment with their physician. The Asthma Coalition of Idaho is sponsored by the Asthma Prevention and Control Program of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.