Asthma-Friendly Childcare Checklist

Offering a childcare setting that provides a healthy environment for children with allergies is easier with the help of a free checklist and Child Care Asthma Action Card from the New England Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease. Children with asthma have sensitive airways. They are bothered by many things that "trigger" their symptoms such as dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, mold, pollens, and exposure to irritating smoke, smells, or very cold air. Children's asthma also can be triggered by excessive exercise or an upper respiratory infection.

The airways of people who have asthma are "chronically" (almost always) inflamed or irritated, especially if they are exposed to their triggers every day. It is important to know what makes children's asthma worse, so you can try to avoid exposing them to these things as much as possible.

The Child Care Asthma Action Card is a tool to help you get information about each child's triggers, medications, and emergency directions. You can use the asthma-friendly checklist to learn about the measures that childcare programs should take to create a safe and healthy environment for children with asthma. Many of the suggestions for avoiding or controlling allergens and irritants also apply to family childcare settings and the children's homes.

Resources

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1233 20th St., NE, Ste. 402, Washington, DC 20036; www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=4&sub=81&cont=392