Schools and Childcare
NOW AVAILABLE! Online Asthma Training for Childcare Providers
The Chronic Respiratory Disease Section is excited to announce the creation of online asthma training for childcare providers! This training will help providers make their childcare facilities asthma friendly, and will provide education on helping children with asthma in the childcare setting. The training can be found at: http://iaccrr.org/default.cfm?page=training-central. Providers must choose a username and password to access the training. Once a provider has signed in, the training can be accessed under the "Trainings" tab.This training is required for 5 Star Childcare certification. For more information on the 5 Star program, please visit: http://www.in.gov/idem/4180.htm.
School Nurse Training
The Chronic Respiratory Disease Section, in partnership with the Department of Education, is conducting a series of trainings for school nurses. The trainings will cover asthma and allergy basics, asthma medications, and how to respond to an asthma or allergy emergency at your school. Trainings will also include the annually required diabetes training. All trainings will run from 8:30 am-4:00 pm. The schedule for trainings is as follows:April 16, 2013: East Central Education Service Center, 1601 Indiana Avenue, Connersville, IN
April 17, 2013: Central Indiana Education Service Center, 6321 La Pas Trail, Indianapolis, IN
April 18, 2013: Wabash Valley Education Center, 3061 Benton Street, West Lafayette, IN
April 23, 2013: Christo's Banquet Center, 830 Lincolnway East, Plymouth IN
April 24, 2013: Region 8 Education Service Center, 251 West 850 North, Decatur, IN
April 30, 2013: Southern Indiana Education Center, 1102 Tree Lane Drive, Jasper, IN
Fly a Flag for Schools
The Fly a Flag for Clean Air Program uses colored flags based on U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI) to notify teachers, coaches, students, and others about outdoor air quality conditions. Schools raise a colored flag each day that corresponds to their local air quality forecast.
The purpose of this program is to create public awareness of outdoor air quality conditions so children can continue to play and have fun while protecting their health when air quality is in unhealthy ranges. Children are at greater risk from air pollution because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Even when air quality is unhealthy, exercise can be continued indoors for children who have symptoms outdoors.
This program is available to all schools throughout Indiana (on a first come, first served basis). Schools that enroll in the program will be asked to also make their school campus an “Idle Free Zone”, be a tobacco free campus, and have asthma action plans on file for all students with a diagnosis of asthma. All schools will receive a custom set of Air Quality Index flags, provided by Anthem and the WellPoint Foundation. Additionally schools will receive Idle Free Zone signs provided by Knozone/City of Indianapolis Office of Sustainability, Improving Kids Environment, and Duke Energy. Age appropriate curriculum and educational materials about indoor and outdoor air quality related to health will also be provided.
Find out how your school can participate in this FREE program.
Winning with Asthma: Coach's Clipboard
The highly recommended "Winning with Asthma" is a program designed to educate sports coaches about the effects of asthma on athletes. Visit http://www.winningwithasthma.org/ to become an asthma-educated coach.
The Indoor Air Quality Rule for Schools
To view IAQ Rule 410 IAC 33, click here.Tools for Schools
This program, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), helps schools reduce exposures to indoor environmental contaminants and manage asthma in the school environment.
The Tools for Schools Action Kit will help schools identify, correct, and prevent common indoor air quality issues. For more information on Tools for Schools, or to download an Action Kit, click here.
Resources for Schools and Childcare Centers
How Asthma Friendly is your Child-Care Setting?How Asthma Friendly is your School?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Information on Asthma for School and Childcare Providers
Environmental Protection Agency: Improving Health in Schools
Environmental Protection Agency: Healthy Child Care
National Athletic Trainers' Association
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Asthma
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Information for Schools/Child Care Centers
Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics: Resources for Schools
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Health Professional Programs
National Association of School Nurses
Knozone: Take Action at School
Asthma Alliance of Indianapolis: Resources for Educational Institutions and School Nurses
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