Transcript ASTHMA WEB-BASED MODULE

ASTHMA TRAINING
Lamar County School District
2012-2013 Annual Asthma Training
Gina Whitehead, RN, MSN
Purpose
Welcome to the Lamar County School District
online asthma training tutorial. This course
will be used to coordinate compliance with
Mississippi Senate Bill 2393, the
Comprehensive School Asthma Law and
will provide an overview of asthma including
causes, common triggers, signs and
symptoms, and emergency treatment.
Objectives
Upon completion of this training module, the
learner will be able to:
 Identify causes of asthma
 Identify signs/symptoms of asthma
 Identify medications used to treat asthma
symptoms and when to use them
 Identify proper technique in using rescue
inhalers
 Emergency management
Assignments
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Log on to the Lamar County School District
web-site and review the asthma learning
tutorial.
Upon completion sign the electronic
signature page.
Impact of Asthma
Each day in America, approximately . . .
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63,000 people will miss school or work due to
asthma.
34,000 people will have an asthma attack.
5,000 people will visit an emergency room facility
due to asthma.
1,300 people will be admitted to the hospital due to
asthma.
10 people will die from asthma.
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Burden of Asthma in Mississippi
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1 in every 14 adults have asthma
-More women than men (8% v. 5%)
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1 in every 10 children have asthma
-About 2 children per classroom
-More prevalent in African American children
than Caucasian children (13% vs. 8%)
-More prevalent in boys than girls (12% vs. 8%)
Source: American Lung Association
of Mississippi
What is asthma?
Normally, when we breathe, air (oxygen)
moves in and out of our lungs. In order to get
oxygen into our blood and tissues, it moves
through several small airways called bronchial
tubes. Bronchial tubes are lined with special
cells that produce mucus, a sticky substance
that helps carry waste particles out of the
lungs. Smooth bands of muscle cover the
outside of the bronchial walls (airways).
Oxygen moves freely in and out when these
muscles are relaxed.
What is asthma?
When a person’s asthma is triggered, there is
inflammation and increased mucus production
in the airways. This causes the opening of the
airways to become smaller, leaving less room
for air (oxygen) to travel through easily.
Normal Airway vs Occluded Airway
Asthma Symptoms
Asthma symptoms vary from person to
person affecting each person differently.
While some people with asthma may only
present with a cough, others may have
wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of
breath.
Asthma Triggers
Persons with asthma are sensitive to certain
environmental substances known as
“triggers” that can irritate muscles around the
airways causing them to constrict or tighten
(bronchospasm). When these muscles
tighten, airways become more narrow making
breathing more difficult.
Common Asthma Triggers
Other Asthma Triggers
Other triggers include:
 Dust mites
 Illness (colds, flu, sinus problems)
 Air pollution (poor air quality control)
 Exercise
 Extreme weather conditions
 Anxiety or emotions such as laughing,
crying, or emotional stress can cause an
asthma attack.
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Extremely Cold Weather
Breathing in cold air can cause the airways to
constrict quickly. Persons with asthma who
play sports in cold weather should take extra
precaution by wearing a mask or a scarf to
help warm the cold air. Warming up before
starting practice or play helps reduce the
likelihood of having an asthma attack due to
breathing cold air.
Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA)
Transient narrowing of the airways associated
with:
 Physical exertion
 Coughing, wheezing or shortness of
breath occurring within 10-15 minutes of
starting exercise
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Managing Exercise Induced
Asthma (EIA
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Warm-up and cool-down periods help
prevent or minimize exercise-induced
asthma episodes.
When a student experiences asthma
symptoms, exercise should be
temporarily modified to decrease the risk
of further symptoms.
Student may need to use quick-relief
medication 10-15 minutes prior to
activity and should always have access
to his/her quick-relief medications.
Asthma Medication
People with asthma may have to take
more than one type of medication. Since
an asthma attack can happen anywhere at
anytime, it is important to always have
quick-relief medication with you wherever
you go.
“Short-Term” Asthma Medication”
Short-term medications are commonly
referred to as “rescue” or quick-acting”
medications because they work fast and act
immediately to relieve asthma symptoms.
Albuterol and Xopenex are two short-term or
“rescue” medications that are commonly seen
in the school setting.
“Long-Term” Asthma Medication
Advair is a common long-term asthma
medication taken daily to help control asthma
symptoms. These medications come in the
form of inhaled corticosteroids and are not
commonly used during the school day.
These medications DO NOT work in the event
of an asthma attack and it is important that
all caregivers understand the difference the
the difference between
these two medications!
Using Rescue Inhalers
Step 1. Take off the cap and shake inhaler rapidly.
Step 2. Exhale.
Step 3. Place inhaler just inside mouth pointing
toward the back of the mouth.
Step 4. As you start to breathe in, press down on the
canister and take a slow, deep breath in.
Step 5. Hold your breath while counting to 10.
Step 6. Release your breath and breathe normally.
Step 7. Wait one to two minutes.
Step 8. Repeat the procedure for each additional
prescribed puff, beginning with Step 1.
Holding Chambers
Asthma Action Plans (AAP)
An asthma action plan or AAP is an instruction plan
formulated for students with asthma by their
healthcare provider instructing what to do and what
medications to take depending on their symptoms.
AAPs are based on a color-coded warning system:
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GREEN = Go (Symptoms are controlled)
YELLOW = Caution (Symptoms are present)
RED = Danger (Symptoms do not go away and get
worse)
Each color includes specific instructions as to what to
do depending on the student’s symptoms.
Asthma Action Plans (AAP)
Peak Flow Meter
A peak flow meter is a simple device that
can be used to evaluate lung function. It
works by measuring the air a person can
blow during the first second of exhalation
and can be a useful tool in helping a
person monitor their asthma symptoms.
Asthma Action Steps
When asthma symptoms begin:
 Have the student STOP what they are doing
and remain calm.
 STAY with the student and send someone
for help and rescue medication.
 NEVER leave the student alone.
Asthma Symptoms Requiring
Immediate Action
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Early clues that an asthma episode is
occurring:
 Coughing (cannot stop coughing)
 Wheezing (may not always be heard)
 Shortness or gasping for breath
 Chest pain or chest tightness
 Skin that is pale, flushed, ashen, or
bluish
 Unable to speak in complete sentences
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Call 9-1-1 if any one of the
following occur:
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Rescue medications are not working (symptoms are
not improving and getting worse) or no rescue
medication is available – or
Nurse/designee or parent/guardian is not available or
Lips and/or nail beds are blue – or
Student is having difficulty talking, walking or
struggling to breathe – or
If you are unsure what to do.
Patient may cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest if not
quickly reversed.
Call 911 and be prepared to initiate CPR if needed!
Asthma Myths!
“You Can’t Die From Asthma”
Facts:
• Deaths from asthma do occur although
they are rare.
• Persons who have died did not have
asthma under control.
• Working closely with your healthcare
provider to develop an individualized plan
will help keep asthma under control.
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Asthma Myths!
“Asthma Medications are Unsafe”
Facts:
• Asthma medications are safe when used as
directed.
• Corticosteroids are not the same as
steroids that some athletes take and are
not considered dangerous.
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Asthma Myths!
“Asthma is all in Your Head”
Facts:
• Asthma is a real, physiological condition.
• There is a genetic basis for asthma.
• Stress can make asthma symptoms worse,
but does not cause someone to develop
asthma.
• Asthma should not keep someone from
living an active, normal life.
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Asthma Myths!
“You Can Outgrow Asthma”
Facts:
• Half of all children with asthma have no
symptoms by the time they reach age
fifteen.
• Asthma symptoms can reappear at any
age.
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
What to do if an Asthma Episode
Occurs
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Review the student’s Asthma Action Plan
Have student sit upright
Slow, deep controlled breathing
Administer quick-relief inhaler
Reassure student and remain calm
Contact School Nurse or Parent/Guardian
NEVER leave student alone!
Source: American Lung Association of Mississippi
Goal of Treatment
Goal of treatment is to recognize and treat
asthma symptoms early and prevent attacks!
References
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http://nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asthma.html
www.cdc.gov/asthma/
www.aafa.org/
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthm
a/Asthma
http://alams.org/cms/
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