Breathe Free Children's Asthma Activity Book

learn about asthma and breathe free! asthma activity book

c l e a r t h e a i r . ta k e c a r e o f a s t h m a .

chapter one

what is asthma?

Hi! I’m the Big Bad Wolf. I have asthma, so sometimes huffing and puffing is hard for me. But I’ve learned how to take care of asthma, and you can too! Follow me and my friends through this book to learn how!

what causes asthma?

There are many reasons you could have asthma.

You can’t cure it, but

you can control it!

asthma word scramble

search this activity book to learn the answers to the questions!

1. What part of your body is affected by asthma?

slgun 2. This is the whistle sound in my chest.

exehwe 3. This is the name of my rescue medicine.

laolruteb 4. This is the type of medicine that I use only when I need it.

esrecu 5. This type of medicine helps keep my asthma under control.

lcrtorleno 6. I use this plastic tube so more medicine gets down in my lungs.

rscpae ANSWERS: 1) lungs | 2) wheeze | 3) Albuterol | 4) rescue | 5) controller | 6) spacer

a look at your lungs!

trachea (breathing tube)

a large tube that brings air down to your lungs; also known as the windpipe

bronchus

a large air tube that begins at the end of the trachea and branches into the lungs

bronchioles tiny branches of air tubes in the lungs that connect to the alveoli (air sacs)

alveoli

tiny air sacs in the lungs where the body picks up oxygen and lets go of carbon dioxide

here’s how it works!

Your lungs look kind of like an upside-down tree inside your body.

Air travels down the branches into your lungs.

At the end of the branches are tiny air sacs called alveoli.

They look like bunches of grapes.

This is where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide. And oxygen is what keeps your body alive!

why is it hard to breathe?

The walls of your airways

swell.

The muscles in your airway get

tighter.

more mucus

There is in your airway, so air can’t get through.

Turn this book sideways to take a look at your airways!

airway is normal

normal mucus

RELAXED muscles

healthy airway

airway is A LITTLE SWOLLEN

muscles around airway are a A LITTLE TIGHT

asthma airway

airway is VERY SWOLLEN

muscles around airway are VERY TIGHT

more mucus in airway

airway during asthma flare-up

asthma words you should know!

If you don’t know any of these, find them in this book!

Action plan • Albuterol • Alveoli Asthma • Bronchi • Bronchioles Controller Medications • Inflammation Nebulizer • Rescue Medicine • Trachea

parents: How to tell

if your child is having trouble breathing

Shortness of Breath

Throat

pulling in at the neck area

• trouble breathing • unable to speak in full sentences

Collar Bone

• trouble talking

sinking in at collar bone

• looks like child is working hard to breathe

Belly Breathing

use of stomach muscles to help with breathing

Ribs

pulling in between rib bones

Other Signs of Trouble Include:

• flared nostrils • pale or blue color around mouth • blue color in nail beds • fast breathing • noisy breathing • grunting or wheezing sound

chapter two

asthma triggers things that make your

asthma worse are called TRIGGERS triggers can be things you’re allergic to, or things that

irritate your lungs these are some of the guys you should avoid if you have asthma!

indoor triggers:

smoke Don’t let any visitors smoke in your home!

Keep your car and house smoke free.

dust mites Ask a parent to cover your mattress and pillows in a dust-proof zippered cover Ask a parent to wash your bedding weekly in hot water and dry completely Ask a parent to vacuum your carpet often Ask a parent to mop hard floors Ask a parent if they can vacuum with a

HEPA filter

Try not to sleep with a lot of stuffed animals

Try to wash your stuffed animals

frequently in hot water and dry them completely avoid these guys: body parts and droppings found in mattresses, bedding, carpeting, curtains and draperies

household mold Clean up any mold you see!

Don’t keep moldy sponges & mops.

Limit houseplants - they can grow mold!

Use your air conditioner when possible.

If the humidity in your house is above 50%, ask your parents if they can get a dehumidifier.

household pests Clean up

your food messes!

Keep a lid on your garbage can!

Ask a parent seal holes /cracks in your walls Ask a parent to use mouse & roach traps Avoid the use of sprays or chemicals, though.

warm-blooded animals If you can, keep your pets outside.

Keep your pet out of your bedroom!

Wash your hands after playing with your pet! avoid these guys: dander (skin flakes), urine, saliva

smoke, strong odors, fumes Avoid the use of fireplaces & wood-burning stoves.

Don’t use aerosol sprays, candles, or air fresheners. avoid these guys: perfumes, aerosol sprays, cleaning products, candles, air fresheners

outdoor triggers: air pollution Ask your parent to check air quality report

stay inside if the air quality is poor use your air conditioner to

help filter the air coming into the home avoid campfire smoke exposure

AVOID THESE GUYS: car exhaust, smoke, road dust, factory emissions

pollen Ask your parent to close windows and doors during pollen season.

Ask your parent to use the air conditioning in your car Don’t dry your clothes outside.

Try not to go outside on windy days.

Use antihistamines before you go outside.

If you feel really bad after being outside, take a bath or shower and wash your hair

illness wash your hands with soap and water often avoid crowds during cold and flu if your doctor agrees, get a flu shot every year

use hand gel when you can’t use soap and water

exercise Take your medicines before you exercise!

Warm up first, and cool down afterward!

Try not to exercise when there is a lot of pollen or pollution! Or when it’s really cold.

Try not to exercise when you’re sick.

weather changes When it’s hot, try to stay inside.

When it’s cold, wear a mask or scarf on your face.

Take your medicines before you excercise!

match the triggers with one way you can avoid it! warm up before you do this! keep windows and doors closed! use the a/c to filter air in your home! keep a lid on your garbage can! wash your hands often! keep your pets outside! vacuum your carpet! don’t use air fresheners! wear a scarf over your face! don’t let people smoke in your home! don’t keep old sponges!

match the triggers with where you might find them!

1 Smoke 2 Dust Mites 3 Household Mold 4 Household Pests 5 Warm-Blooded Animals 6

Smoke, Strong Odors, Fumes

7 Air Pollution 8 Pollen 9 Exercise 10 Hot Weather 11 Cold Weather

make your own asthma action plan chapter three

what are your triggers?

1

think about times when you have trouble breathing, or are coughing, or have allergy symptoms like sneezing or itching

2

try to notice when you have symptoms, and ask a parent, teacher, or

doctor to help you figure out which triggers are read in chapter three how to avoid your 3 triggers, and ask your parent or school nurse to help you avoid them

circle:

my asthma gets worse...

when it’s cold when it’s hot

when I’m around car exhaust or smoke

when I spend a lot of time outside

when I’m around strong smells

when I’m at home

when I’m around mold

when I exercise

when I’m around beds or carpet

when I’m sick

when I’m around someone smoking

when I’m around pets

what are your symptoms?

My chest feels tight Sometimes I wheeze I have allergies: sneezing and itching I cough a lot I have trouble breathing when I’m working or playing Sometimes I am too tired to walk Sometimes I feel like I need to lie down because I can’t breathe

Have a parent or teacher help you find your symptoms if you don’t know!

There are more in Chapter One!

what to do! trigger: steps I will take to avoid it:

trigger: steps I will take to avoid it:

trigger: steps I will take to avoid it:

asthma action plan If you are wheezing, coughing, short-of-breath, or waking up because you can’t breathe, your asthma might not be well-controlled!

An asthma action

plan will help you to

know when to take your medicine and how much to take. Have your

doctor help you make yours!

green zone prevent! you’re doing well! no cough or wheeze

Take your usual maintenance medicines!

before exercise:

x / day

x / day

x / day

x / day 5 minutes before exercise

early warning signs of asthma trouble (yellow zone): I sometimes wheeze I cough often I have tightness in the chest I have signs of allergies I have trouble breathing Sometimes I have trouble sleeping at night because of cough or trouble breathing I have cold or allergy symptoms I play quietly or sometimes don’t want to eat or drink I am short of breath when I work or play

yellow zone breathe! you have mild symptoms cough, tightness in chest, getting a cold/flu

add reliever medicines x / day

x / day

x / day

x / day

late warning signs of asthma trouble (red zone): I cough a lot I can’t speak in full sentences I am too tired to walk I can’t lie down because of trouble breathing I frequently belly breathe My nostrils flare I sit or walk hunched over to help me breathe

red zone call! your asthma is getting worse call your doctor!

increase your medications! x / day

x / day

x / day

x / day

call your doctor! phone number:

chapter four

taking care of your asthma there is no cure for asthma, but there are things you can do to keep asthma under control

Follow your asthma action plan!

Take all medicines as directed by your doctor!

See your doctor when you’re supposed to!

Pay attention to your symptoms!

Avoid your asthma triggers!

we are asthma medicines and we can help you with your asthma! there are two main types of medicine: controller and rescue

rescue medications You should take me when you’re having trouble with your asthma.

I work fast to make it easier to breathe

Sometimes you might feel hyper or shaky because of your rescue medicine.

That’s okay! Call your doctor if you’re worried.

controller medications I will treat the disease, not just your symptoms! prevent future asthma problems

I will help you

by keeping your airways from swelling

you have to take me every day for me to work right

a controller medicine calendar might help you remember to take your medicine every day

taking your medicine always take

all of your medicine

and keep taking it until your doctor says to stop

you should always use a

spacer or valved holding chamber

when you use your inhaler to help the medicine get into your lungs

an asthma diary can help you keep track of your asthma;

take it with you when you see your doctor

using a metered dose inhaler with valved holding chamber/mask

1

shake the inhaler hard up and down five times

2 take the mouthpiece cover off

3

if the inhaler is new or has not been used for several days, spray four puffs into the air first. these are called “priming puffs�

4 push the inhaler into the rubber end of the valved holding chamber so that it fits tight!

5

Sit up straight or stand up. Put the mask over your face. The mask should fit over your nose and mouth!

press down on the canister ONE time

7

SLOWLY breath in and out six times through your mouth.

You want to fill your lungs with medicine for this long

6

using a nebulizer 1

take top off nebulizer cap

2

twist cap off medicine vial

3

squeeze medicine into nebulizer cup

4

put top back on nebulizer cup

put the end of the tube in the bottom of the nebulizer cup

6

Put the mask on top of nebulizer cup. The mask you have might look a little different than this one. Refer to the package insert on how to assemble.

7

Put the mask on your face.

The strap should fit snug!

8

Plug the other end of the tubing into the nebulizer and turn on.

When the treatment is done, the sound will sound less steady and will make a sputter sound.

5

caring for your nebulizer

ask a parent to help!

1 2 3

wash your hands first!

disassemble the nebulizer cap gently wash mask or mouthpiece and medicine cup with warm soapy water and mild detergent

4

rinse mask or mouthpiece and medicine cup with clean water

5 6

don’t wash the nebulizer tubing or compressor!

shake off the extra water and put the parts on a clean towel to dry out

7

put parts back together when totally dry

mouthpiece

T connector for use with mouthpiece

nebulizer medicine cup

tubing

air inlet filter

nebulizer compressor

mask

power source

medicine cup with mask

tools for managing your asthma chapter five

metered dose inhaler tracker Look on the label on your inhaler to see how many puffs are in the canister.

Cross out the number for every puff given!

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You may still feel something when you shake your inhaler.

This is not medicine. Throw this inhaler away. Start a new inhaler.

controller medicine calendar sunday

monday

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

friday

put an X over the sun when you take your morning controller medicine put an X over the moon when you take your evening controller medicine

saturday

sunday

monday

tuesday

wednesday

Controller medicines work over time to help out your lungs. You should take them every day to prevent asthma trouble, even if you feel okay!

thursday

friday

saturday