Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Asthma Coalition

Our coalition was formed in Jan. 2007 to bring asthma awareness to the forefront after 4 pediatric asthma related deaths in a two county area in 3 month period. The CSRA asthma coalition consist of school nurses, asthma educators, public health officals, physicians, pharmacutical sales representives, concerned parents, respiratory therapist and respiratory therapy students, educators and officals from the American Lung Association. Our goal is to make the CSRA( seven county area) aware of the tremendous burden uncontrolled asthma places on healthcare, schools, parents and children. We seek to make the community, especially children and parents aware of the resources aviable to them to take control of their asthma.Our primary goal has for the first year has been to raise awareness. We also seek to bring asthma to the forefront of the communities health concerns. Our objectives are raise the level of asthma awareness through education such as ALA Asthma 101, Open Airways courses. Also through community awareness activies such as "Asthma Awareness- Putting the pieces togather" a community offering for education and asthma kits. The coalition has provided three asthma awareness events in conjunction with local merchants that were attended by over 200 people. The coalition has been involed in two community events that offered an oppertunity to showcase asthma awareness and treatment. The coalition has provided over 200 asthma kits to pediatric patients in need of peak flow meters and MDI spacers all at no charge to the participants. The coalition has provided a one hour Asthma 101 class to sixteen elementry and middle schools as well as providing asthma 101 training to over 100 teachers and educators in Richmond and Columbia county in the past year. The coalition is bring asthma awareness to the community.