Asthma Education

Ophea's Asthma Education Initiative includes free resources designed to increase the skills and knowledge of educators about asthma management in schools.

The purpose of the Asthma Education Initiative is to increase awareness and provide outreach and asthma education materials to those in school environments that play a role in the management of asthma. The core activities of this initiative include public education materials, an integrated communications strategy, the incorporation of key asthma messages into other Ophea programs and services, and partnership-building.

NEW Guide: 7 Simple Steps to Make School Asthma-Friendly

Drawing on the work of Public Health Schools Asthma Program (PHSAP) experts affiliated with select Public Health Units, the Ontario Lung Association and Ophea have developed a new guide –– to help principals and teachers recognize and respond to the needs of children with asthma. The guide recommends that all schools establish a process to identify students with asthma and to ensure that they have easy access to their prescribed reliever inhaler. Staff should also know how to recognize and manage worsening symptoms and asthma attacks.

Download the new 7 Simple Steps to Make School Asthma-Friendly guide here.

The most recent resource is the Managing Asthma in Our Schools DVD Resource Package. This resource helps support educators and administrators create an asthma friendly and supportive school environment. A recent evaluation of the DVD found that 96% of educators reported a significant increase in their level of confidence to manage asthma in their school after viewing this DVD. View a version of this DVD online and download the free resource package.

All resources from the Asthma Education Initiative are available in French.

For more information please contact info@ophea.net.

Ophea's Asthma Education Initiative is funded by the Government of Ontario in support of the Ontario Asthma Plan of Action. Partners: The Asthma Society of Canada, The Lung Association, Public Health School Asthma Program (PHSAP). Ophea is the Provincial Coordinator for the Public Health School Asthma Program (PHSAP), an initiative of the Asthma Plan of Action, funded by the Government of Ontario. The purpose of PHSAP is to create asthma friendly and supportive schools through developing, implementing and evaluating educational programs and guidelines. PHSAP is currently available in the following four public health units: City of Hamilton Public Health Services, Durham Region Health Department, Halton Region, Sudbury & District Health Unit. For more information, resources and supports to increase the awareness and knowledge of educators regarding asthma management in schools, visit www.asthmainschools.com.