Asthma & Childcare

GETTING THE RIGHT START

Asthma is highly prevalent in children aged 0 to 5 years and children in this age group have the highest rates of emergency room and hospital visits for asthma. In California, nearly 50,000 licensed child care centers, preschools, and family child care providers serve over 1 million children (California Childcare Referral Network, 2005). Still more children reside in unlicensed childcare situations. Some of these children spend up to 60 hours a week in child care settings. It is critical that they spend their time in a healthy and safe environment, especially if they have special health care needs like asthma.

While child care facilities encounter many of the same challenges that confront schools, there are many issues and concerns unique to this setting and age group. Child care providers play a major role in the health and safety of the children in their care. To keep children healthy, is it essential that providers and parents communicate regularly and understand how to care for children with asthma. Similar to school personnel, child care providers must be prepared to respond to asthma emergencies and know how to reduce asthma triggers in their child care environment. Addressing asthma-related environmental issues within the many diverse child care settings will require continued coordination and outreach at many levels. Success in meeting the child care objectives and strategies will result in better policies and practices that encourage safer child care environments for infants and young children with asthma; consistent education for staff to recognize asthma and respond effectively; and new resources to sustain and disseminate these advances.