in the classroom at school.  If cold air is a trigger, arrange for your child to exercise indoors during the winter instead of outdoors.  If dust is a trigger, replace carpeting with wood, tile or vinyl floor coverings.

Be sure to get your child a flu shot as soon as they are available in the fall.  A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that only 30 percent of children with asthma get the flu shot, even though flu can be fatal for people with asthma.

Even with the best planning, some children will have asthma attacks that require immediate attention from an emergency physician at the emergency department.  The following conditions should prompt a call for emergency help (911 in most areas):

- Symptoms do not improve quickly after the use of rescue inhalers.

- The child strains to breathe or cannot complete a sentence without pausing for breath.

- The child’s lips or fingernails turn blue. 

Older children (ages 11-17) have the lowest rate of emergency department visits, but the highest rate of death from asthma.  It suggests that although they are more independent than younger children in many areas, they still need close monitoring by their parents for signs that their asthma symptoms are worsening and in need of medical attention.

“Emergency physicians want your children to lead fully active, energetic lives without visiting the emergency department,” said Dr. Cydulka.  “However, if your child is in trouble, we will be there to get him or her back in action as quickly as possible.”