Free Breather Maryland

Montgomery County AIR

Montgomery AIR Goal

To improve the quality of life for Montgomery County families of children with asthma.

Montgomery AIR Objective

Reduce by 10% per year the increase in the rate of hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits due to asthma for all children.

Goal: Improve the quality of life of Montgomery County families of children with asthma.
Objective: Reduce by 10% per year the increase in the rate of hospitalization and ED visits due to asthma for all children.
Strategy 1: Health care practitioners using asthma action plan.
I. Steps Step Leader
  1. Raise awareness of need for asthma action plans.
    1. Parents Services
    2. Health care practitioners
    3. School Health Services staff
School Health Services
  1. Collect Data
    1. Count action plans at beginning and end of school year.
School Health Services
  1. Invite five county hospitals to provide one asthma management educational session each to health care practitioners (grand rounds).
 AIR
  1. Invite the county medical society to partner in educational efforts.
 AIR
  1. Invite emergency department leaders to review county asthma AIR
    ED data.
 AIR
  1. Utilize other county coalitions including African American Health Initiative, Hispanic Health Initiative, and Healthy Montgomery.
 AIR

Goal: Improve the quality of life of Montgomery County families of children with asthma.
Objective: Reduce by 10% per year the increase in the rate of hospitalization and ED visits due to asthma for all children.
Strategy 2: Raising awareness on environmental impact.
I. Steps Step Leader
  1. Include representation of Housing Opportunity Commission (HOC) on AIR.
 AIR
  1. Utilize other county coalitions including African American Health Initiative, Hispanic Health Initiative, and Healthy Montgomery.
 AIR
  1. Consider Home Air Quality
    1. Second-hand smoke
    2. Dust and mold
    3. Pesticides/household cleaning agents (chemical)
    4. Pollution
    5. Cockroaches
    6. Pets
AIR
  1. Consider School Air Quality
    1. Indoor air quality
    2. Outdoor air quality
Montgomery County Public Schools
  1. Consider Community Air Quality
    1. Auto emissions
    2. Industrial pollutants
    3. Secondhand smoke
AIR
  1. Support Smoking Cessation Initiatives
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Goal: Improve the quality of life of Montgomery County families of children with asthma.
Objective: Reduce by 10% per year the increase in the rate of hospitalization and ED visits due to asthma for all children.
Strategy 3: Increase by 75% the number of MCPS students who use peak flow meters as part of their routine asthma management plan.
I. Steps Step Leader
  1. Advise parents of the need to share asthma action plans with the school.
School Health Services
  1. Establish the baseline number of peak flow meters used by students to determine appropriate use of quick relief Services medicines.
School Health Services
  1. Monitor the number of peak flow meters available for student use.
 School Health Services
  1. Establish the baseline number of students using peak flow meters to determine appropriate use of quick-relief medicines and to monitor continued use.
 School Health Services
  1. Use State of Maryland grant funds to provide peak flow meters to every Montgomery County public school.
 School Health Services
  1. Seek additional funding to maintain peak flow meters in public schools.
 School Health Services

Goal: Improve the quality of life of Montgomery County families of children with asthma.
Objective: Reduce by 10% per year the increase in the rate of hospitalization and ED visits due to asthma for all children.
Strategy 4: Raise awareness of pediatric asthma in children (ages 0-9 years) targeting childcare providers, Head Start staff, MCPS staff, health care practitioners, parents, and children.
I. Steps Step Leader
  1. Use state grant funding to contract with George Washington University to research parent perceptions of asthma and their educational needs.
 School Health Services
  1. Increase asthma management awareness by:
    1. Partnering with organizations to provide two community asthma screenings per year
    2. Recognizing Asthma Awareness Months (May & Oct.)
    3. Considering Awards
    4. Seeking support from the media for asthma awareness & education
 AIR
  1. CEstablish annual childcare staff training (completion cert.).
 Child Care Health Consultant
  1. Encourage the use of asthma action plans by children in childcare.
Child Care Health Consultant
  1. Establish annual school staff training (completion cert.)
    1. Administration - Superintendent, Community Superintendent, Principals
    2. School-based professionals and support staff
    3. Bus drivers
School Health Services