Parents of asthmatic children are a lot worried about letting their child take part in outdoor actions, mainly summer camp. Leaders of these activities are often just as hesitant about letting these children contribute and consider them to be too medically flimsy. Children may feel lonely and "different" than their non-asthmatic friends and become disinclined to participate in sports and more active types of play. One great answer is to have your child partake in asthma camp, a special program to help teach your child how to handle their asthma in a safe and fun environment.
There are about 120 asthma camps across the nation and are primarily sponsored by the American Lung Association that serve around 10,000 children per year. They are staffed by medical professionals and volunteers with exceptional training and interest in asthmatic children. Most have comparatively low camper fees and often have camper scholarships available. Studies in print in the December 2007 edition of the Annals of Allergy and Immunology found that children who go to asthma camp have a lower occurrence of emergency room and doctor's office visits following their camping experience.
Children take part in an educational program that educate them what asthma is, how to identify and keep away from their triggers and how to use a metered dose inhaler and a nebulizer. They study how to use a peak flow meter and set up an action plan to securely and effectively respond to changes in their respiratory status. The emotional and social aspects of asthma are also discussed and children learn that they are not alone. Of course, children also join the accustomed fun camp activities including hiking, crafts, swimming, boating, fishing, and horseback riding.
A parent class is also incorporated which sum up the asthma self-management skills that their children have learned at camp and how they can endorse and encourage these skills at home. Parents gain knowledge of how to keep their children healthy and active and to be able to solve troubles when they occur. Some of the psychological portions of raising asthmatic children are also discussed.
Asthma is controllable and treatable, and children who are trained to manage it can become healthier, more confident and more independent. Parents who learn to prop up these skills in their children will discover that their lives are less disrupted and they will feel less lonely and worried as well.
