ORQUIDEAS: COMBATING ASTHMA NOELIA, TINA, LAURA HUNTER COLLEGE
WHAT IS ASTHMA? ASTHMA IS INFLAMATION AND NARROWING OF THE AIR WAYS (Bronchial Tubes)
COMMON ASTHMA TRIGGERS
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS Peak Flow Examination Pulmonary Function Tests Methacholine Provocation Test Allergy Tests Asthma Control Test
ASTHMA MEDICATIONS Quick acting inhaler Lung-acting inhaler Steroid inhaler Epinephrine (shot) Cromolyn sodium inhaler Pills: Zafirlukast, Zileuton and Montelukas Theophylline Corticosteroids( also injection)
REALITY OF ASTHMA IN THE BRONX One of the most serious health problems for children in the Bronx. Hospitalization rates are 1000 times higher in the Bronx than in NY as a whole and one of the highest in the nation. # 1 reason for school absenteeism. # 1 reason for emergency room visits. Proximity of facilities that release toxic substances into air, water and land.
OUR PROJECT Conducted Asthma Survey: In P.S. 48 Joseph R Drake Population: 4 th Graders
INFORMATIVE MEETING Held in conjunction with the American Lung Association Volunteer for Asthma walk on June 5, 2005
HUNTS POINT - THE BRONX Community Development: Sustainable South Bronx The Point
WHAT IS BEING DONE? 1.Open Airways for Schools – American Lung Association 2.The Use of Windmill Power –Long Island Power Authority and FPL 3.Government Proposed Solutions: Bloomberg is planning to pass five City Council bills that will control air pollution from trucks and busses. The Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel -underwater tunnel between Brooklyn- New Jersey PROS Improve environment Eliminate truck trips Reduce truck emission Stimulate economy: Create new jobs Lower prices of goods Revival of Brooklyn Ports CONS Band-Aid solution since it will limit truck traffic from New Jersey and Manhattan to Maspeth, Queens- an area already affected with 24,000 truck trips a day Bloomberg no longer approves the initiative A lot of Environmental protection bills do not pass since Large energy producers are also big political contributors
FUTURE PROJECTS Continue Asthma Surveys of the affected area More informative meetings and workshops Conduct a Health fair Work in conjunction with community based organizations