SAN ANTONIO (July 12, 2016) — The UT Health Science Center San Antonio is holding a free Asthma Boot Camp from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, July 25. The camp will be held at the DoSeum, San Antonio’s Museum for Kids, at 2800 Broadway.
The camp is for children ages 7-12 diagnosed with asthma. In addition to a free T-shirt, games, prizes and free admission to the DoSeum, the children will learn critical information about asthma prevention and treatment, including symptoms, triggers, asthma medications and how to control their asthma. They also will receive a free asthma holding chamber (a device that helps deliver inhaled medicine more effectively to the lungs) and a peak flow meter (a handheld device to measure how well air travels through the lungs).
A leading cause of school absences
According to 2014 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 6.2 million children (individuals age 17 and younger) have asthma, which is 8.6 percent of children.
The American Lung Association states that asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses among children. It is a leading cause of absenteeism from school and the third-leading cause of hospitalization for children under the age of 15. Although rare among children, asthma can be a life-threatening disease, with 169 child deaths from asthma in 2011 compared to 3.345 in the general population, the ALA reports.
Prevent asthma episodes
“This is a fun way for children to learn how to be responsible for their asthma and to become a member of the team that works to control it,” said Mary Kay Hart, M.S., RRT, AE-C, FAARC, camp coordinator. She is an assistant professor and director of clinical education in the Department of Respiratory Care, part of the School of Health Professions. Respiratory care students are the camp counselors.
Register now
Space is limited. To register for the camp, contact Lee Ann Schwarz at (210) 567-7960 or schwarzl@uthscsa.edu
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