T.A.T.U. - TEENS AGAINST TOBACCO USE

Teens Against Tobacco Use ( T.A.T.U. ) recruits teenage volunteers (ages 14-17) to teach younger children how to avoid the temptations of cigarette smoking. The American Lung Association’s main objective is to help teens remain tobacco free. The teens gain leadership experience and skills. T.A.T.U. concentrates on the following five components designed to prevent tobacco use:

Develop skills to teach younger children about tobacco use and become advocates for a tobacco-free community.

Understand and identify the positive aspects of being tobacco-free and realize that the majority of teens and adults do not smoke.

Understand how tobacco advertising and promotions deceive youth.

Understand how getting hooked destroys youths freedom and control over their personal lives.

Develop self-confidence.

OPEN AIRWAYS FOR SCHOOLS

Open Airways For Schools teaches 3rd through 6th grade children with asthma how to prevent asthma episodes and emergencies. Our major goal is to provide the children with asthma self-management skills to control their asthma so it doesn’t control them.

In addition, we hope to decrease school absenteeism, help the children gain more confidence in their ability to manage asthma, improve their academic performance, exert greater influence on parents’ asthma management decisions, have fewer and shorter episodes of asthma, recognize the symptoms of asthma when they first occur, and carry out appropriate asthma management steps.

Open Airways For Schools consists of six 40-minute group lessons for children that are held during the school day. The curriculum incorporates an interactive teaching approach - utilizing group discussion, stories, games and role-play - to promote children’s active involvement in the learning process. Children receive assignments to complete with their parents or other family members and are encouraged to rehearse new skills at home.

CAMP WHEEZ

Camp Wheez, a free summer day camp for children with asthma, provides a unique camp experience designed for the special needs of children with asthma.

The daily classes in lung education help the children understand and better manage their asthma. The children also learn to be more aware of situations that might trigger an asthma episode and how to avoid them. By interacting with other children with asthma, they learn to become more comfortable with their own asthma.

The fun camp activities available to the children, such as arts and crafts and sports, are an integral part of Camp Wheez. We want the children to have typical camp activities in addition to the lung education classes taught by the doctors.

A Family Workshop is held during camp for the benefit of the parents and other care givers of the campers. During a two hour session, the parents have a chance to hear from physicians and discuss their concerns related to childhood asthma.

Camp Wheez is staffed by volunteers from the community, including physicians, other medical professionals and Camp Wheez graduates who return as counselors to assist with the programs.

“A” IS FOR ASTHMA

This asthma awareness program in English and Spanish is designed for child-care professionals in day care centers and pre-schools. With the help of Sesame Street characters Elmo, Rosita, and Luis, along with Dani, a special Muppet with asthma, pre-school age children as well as their caregivers and families will learn that asthma can be managed and that children with asthma can lead very normal lives. The program includes a video, caregivers guide and a colorful “Action Plan” poster that tells what to do when a child with asthma feels sick.

TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

Indoor air problems can be subtle and do not always produce easily recognized impacts on health and well-being. Children are more susceptible to air pollution, especially children with asthma. Good indoor air quality contributes to a favorable learning environment for students, productivity for teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, health, and well-being for all school occupants. These combine to assist a school in its core mission - educating children. Our Tools For Schools indoor air quality program is designed to help schools assess their air quality, make improvements, and create a better learning environment for all students.

LUNGS ARE FOR LIFE

“Lungs Are For Life” is a smoking prevention/lung health school-based program for children ages 10-14. Besides teaching the physiology of the respiratory system and the damage caused by smoking, we discuss asthma, tuberculosis and other types of lung disease, as well as indoor and outdoor air pollution and its effects on the lungs.

We discuss deceptive advertising tactics and ways to say “no” to smoking and any other uncomfortable situation. The curriculum varies for each grade. We offer a dramatic view of the consequence of smoking through a 3-D model display-board that offers examples of external and internal damages to varying parts of the body caused by smoking.

A highlight of the program is the use of actual samples of human respiratory parts, both diseased and healthy. This is a unique opportunity for children to be able to see and touch these specimens. We also provide fun educational activities, such as bookmark and poster drawing contests.

Our objective is to provide the children with a comprehensive understanding of their lungs - how they function and how to keep them healthy for life.

HEALTHY LUNGS ARE FOR CHILDREN