May Is Asthma Awareness Month

Raising Awareness About Asthma

(a message from Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO, American Lung Association)

Today, more than 25 million people in America have asthma—including more than 7 million kids. Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 and is a leading cause of school absences.

That's why this May—Asthma Awareness Month—the American Lung Association has set out to bring greater awareness of this disease. We're helping to make sure people with asthma have access to the information and resources they need to manage their asthma to live active, healthy lives.

What's Available? Tools and resources to help better inform people with asthma and their loved ones, including:

• Asthma Basics: a self-paced online learning module for adults and caregivers interested in learning about asthma.

• Lungtropolis™: Where Kids with Asthma Learn to Play - a fun, interactive and educational website for children with asthma between ages of 5 and 10 and their parents.

• Lung.org/asthma: a one-stop-shop for information and resources on how to manage asthma to live a normal, healthy life.

• Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative (AFSI) Champion Awards: the Lung Association is recognizing schools that have taken steps toward establishing asthma-friendly learning environments by issuing Champion Awards. Is your school making the grade? Apply today.

How Can You Help?

• Join our nationwide Asthma Call-In Day today, May 8, and tell your elected officials in Washington how important the National Asthma Control Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to people with asthma.

• Share these resources with someone you know who is living with asthma.

• Your help makes programs and resources like these available for those with lung disease, such as asthma. If you haven't already, please consider making a matching gift made possible by our dedicated volunteers and staff. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $60,000, but time is limited. This opportunity expires May 20.

We appreciate your continued support.
Harold Wimmer
National President and CEO
American Lung Association