At or below 6th Grade

There are six requirements to qualify for the PACNJ Asthma Friendly School Award. Each step supports the efforts of New Jersey schools to be in compliance with New Jersey Laws for asthma management and good indoor air quality.

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

1. A Nebulizer is required in each school as mandated by state statute NJSA 18A:40-12.7.
Programs for 2, 3, & 4 (below) are available FREE on the PACNJ website: www.pacnj.org.

2. Each school nurse views two videos: Asthma Basics for School Nurses - a 22 minute video on asthma
management for school nurses and Gadgets and Gizmos for Asthma Control - a 20 minute video of
demonstrations on the use and care of medication delivery devices and the peak flow meter. They
fulfill the requirement mandated by state statute NJSA 18A:40-12.8.

3. Each school nurse views the one-hour PACNJ PowerPoint program: Asthma Treatment Plan: NJ
School Nurses Leading the Way and takes the online quiz to earn 1 Professional Development Hour.

4. Each school nurse conducts the 50-minute PACNJ faculty in-service PowerPoint program: Asthma
Management in the Classroom: What Teachers Need to Know, available from the PACNJ website. It
fulfills the requirement mandated by state statute NJSA 18A:40-12.9 for annual asthma education for
school faculty.

5. A district school nurse and a district facilities person attend the NJDHSS/PEOSH Indoor Air Quality
(IAQ) Training for School Nurses and Designated Persons (PEOSH - Public Employees Occupational
Safety and Health Program). The updated NJPEOSH Indoor Air Quality Standard N.J.A.C. 12:100-13
requires public employers to select and train a designated person. NJDHSS/PEOSH provides the
Designated Persons training and a certificate of attendance.

In addition, each school establishes an Indoor Air Quality Team.

To arrange to attend the free half-day local NJDHSS/PEOSH Indoor Air Quality and Designated
Person’s Training contact info@pacnj.org.

6. The school superintendent signs the NJ DEP “No-Idling Pledge” for the school district.
Visit: www.stopthesoot.org for detailed information about the No-Idling Pledge

The Asthma Friendly School Award recognizes a school’s efforts to enhance the quality of education for students and staff who face the challenges of asthma.

Check out our page on becoming an Asthma Friendly Child Care Program Award recipient! Just 10 easy steps to qualify!  Go to WWW.PACNJ.ORG under the "child care" section for more information!

Asthma is a common disease among Montana children.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood, affecting an esti-mated 20,000 children ages 0-18 in Montana.  One in five Montana high school students has been told they have asthma in their lifetime and 11% of Montana high school students report currently having asthma. In a typical Montana classroom with 30 students, three children will likely have asthma.

Asthma affects school attendance and performance.

Nationwide, asthma is a leading cause of school absences. In 2003, approximately 12.8 million school days were missed due to asthma in the United States.Research indicates that students with persistent asthma symptoms and asthma related school absences may have lower test scores and academic achievement.

With planning, asthma can be controlled in the school setting.

Good asthma management includes proper use of asthma medications and reduction of environmental asthma triggers such as tobacco smoke and animal dander. Schools can support asthma management efforts by implementing policies and procedures that allow students easy access to their medications and that reduce asthma triggers in the school environment.

Creating an asthma friendly school environment can help students with asthma fully participate in all school activities and have the best chance at academic success. This booklet details seven simple steps toward creating an asthma friendly school.