Back-to-School Asthma Clinics to be Hosted Nationwide
Parents and teachers urged to support children’s asthma management
What: Free Back-to-School Asthma Clinics
When: 15 – 26 September 2014
Where: Primary Schools and Town Centres Nationwide
With parents readying their children to go back-to-school this September, the Asthma Society of Ireland is hosting free mobile asthma clinics nationwide from 15 – 26 September, to advise parents and teachers of ways to better manage children’s asthma.
Hosted across a range of towns and cities nationwide, with dedicated visits to primary schools, the asthma clinics will provide practical advice on inhaler technique and asthma management. An asthma nurse specialist will be on hand to help children to learn more about asthma, and parents and teachers will be urged to put an asthma management plan and a school policy in place to better control the condition for children.
Sharon Cosgrove, CEO, Asthma Society of Ireland said, “These clinics aim to empower parents and teachers with information to help ease children with asthma back into the school routine. With 10 school days lost each year due to asthma, this number can be greatly reduced by putting some safeguards in place.”
“The excitement and stress of returning to school, coupled with exposure to colds and viruses can be, for many children, a major trigger for symptoms that cause asthma attacks. With 1 in 5 children affected by asthma it is important parents and teachers are aware of the dangers and have an asthma management plan in place.”
For advice or support on asthma, or for further information about the asthma clinics to be held nationwide visit www.asthma.ie
Asthma Society of Ireland Mobile Asthma Clinics
Week One
Monday 15th September 2014
Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Morning Scoil Naisiunta Phoil Naofa, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Afternoon Golden Island Shopping Centre,
2pm – 5pm Athlone Town, Co Westmeath
Tuesday 16th September 2014
Galway, Co. Galway
Morning Briarhill National School, Briarhill, Ballybritt, Co. Galway
Afternoon Eyre Square, Galway – Location TBC
2pm – 5pm
Wednesday 17th September 2014
Ennis, Co. Clare
Morning Holy Family Senior School, Station Road, Ennis,
Co. Clare
Afternoon Ennis Town – Location TBC
2pm – 5pm
Thursday 18th September 2014
Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Morning Ballyvary Central National School, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Afternoon Castlebar – Location TBC
2pm – 5pm
Friday 19th September 2014
Roscommon, Co. Roscommon
Morning Scoil Mhuire Convent Primary School, Co. Roscommon
Afternoon Roscommon Town – Location TBC
2pm – 5pm
Week Two
Monday 22nd September 2014
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Morning Presentation Convent (Jnr), Junior School, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Afternoon Mullingar Town – Location TBC
2pm – 5pm
Tuesday 23rd September 2014
Navan, Co. Meath
Morning Scoil Muire Navan, Abbey Road, Navan, Co. Meath
Afternoon Navan Town – Location TBC
2pm – 5pm
Wednesday 24th September 2014
Cavan, Co. Cavan
Morning St Clare Primary School, Co. Cavan
Afternoon Market Square, Cavan Town
2pm – 5pm
Thursday 25th September 2014
Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
Morning Urbleshanny National School, Urbleshanny, Scotstown, Co. Monaghan
Afternoon Monaghan Town – Location TBC
2pm – 5pm
Friday 26th September 2014
Drogheda, Co. Louth
Morning St Pauls Senior National School, Rathmullen, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Afternoon West Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
2pm – 5pm
About Asthma
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of varying severity that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry the air in and out of the lungs. People with asthma have airways that are extra sensitive to substances (or triggers), which irritate them. Common triggers include cold and flu, cigarette smoke, exercise and allergic responses to pollen, furry or feathery animals or house-dust mites.
When the airways come into contact with an asthma trigger, the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower. The lining of the airways swell and produce a sticky mucus. As the airways narrow, it becomes difficult for the air to move in and out. That is why people with asthma wheeze and find breathing difficult.
Whilst there is no cure, asthma can be controlled by avoiding triggers and by the use of ‘reliever’ and ‘controller’ medication. Relievers are medicines that people with asthma take immediately when asthma symptoms appear. Controllers help calm the airways and stop them from being so sensitive. Talk to your GP or asthma nurse about which treatment is most suitable for you.
About the Asthma Society of Ireland
The Asthma Society of Ireland is the national charity representing more than 470,000 adults and children with asthma in Ireland. Every year we help hundreds of people to get their Asthma under control. The Asthma Society’s mission is to achieve the best possible asthma care for people in Ireland.
We support people with asthma and their families by providing a wide rage of high quality information and education services free of charge. We raise awareness about asthma and the importance of good asthma management with people who avail of our services and with the wider public too. We actively engage with healthcare professionals, government departments and third party organisations to keep asthma high on the agenda.
The Asthma Society also supports research and innovative projects which investigate the causes and treatment of asthma.
Further information on the Asthma Society is available by visiting www.asthma.ie
