Asthma UK Cymru (Wales) will launch a potentially life-saving project designed to educate teachers on how to look after children with asthma.

Wales has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, with 55,000 children - or one child in ten - living with the condition. It is estimated that the average school classroom has at least three children with asthma - yet many teachers have little knowledge of asthma or how to care for children with this serious, widespread but controllable condition.

The project is being launched at Lansdowne Primary School in Cardiff, where teachers will attend a two-hour information session led by a specialist asthma nurse. The course aims to reduce the risks to children with asthma by offering guidance on medicines, inhaler technique and how to recognise and manage asthma attacks.

Catrin Shorney, Asthma UK Cymru's Asthma Services Development Officer, said: 'This training will help to ensure that school children receive the high standard of care that they deserve whilst at school. It will ensure that teachers know what to do if a child they are looking after has an asthma attack and could help save lives.

'The training will also reassure the parents of children with asthma that they are in the safest possible hands and we are planning further training sessions for teachers in locations across Wales.'

Richard Edwards, Head Teacher at Lansdowne Primary School, said: 'We are delighted to be working in partnership with Asthma UK Cymru on this important project. We take the care of our children very seriously and it is essential that all of our staff and carers are trained to look after children with this potentially life-threatening condition.'

The two-hour training session aims to meet seven training objectives, to ensure:

-- An understanding of the basics of asthma
-- Knowledge of what sets off an asthma attack
-- Information on medicines used to treat asthma
-- Information on devices used to treat asthma
-- What to do in the event of an asthma attack
--How to make an establishment 'asthma friendly'
-- When to call for medical help.

Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma.

asthma/adviceline
asthma