Clear Airways Activity

Hand out the airways and introduce the topic.

We are going to look deep into our airways to see what happens when we use asthma medication.

This exercise helps children understand the difference between asthma medications and why each medication is important. It also shows why the brown preventer medication must used as instructed by their doctors, even though the impact is not as obvious as that of the blue reliever medication.

Start with a blue reliever puffer.

Puff is going to use a blue reliever puffer. Show Puff what happens inside his airways. How fast does the medication work?

Use the device/medication that is applicable to each group. Encourage participation and discussion. The medication quickly relaxes the tight muscles that constrict Puff's airway. Ask each Team to quickly untie the string.

Are Puff's airways unplugged yet?

No, Puff's airways are not unplugged yet. The sample airways still have cotton stuffing blocking the smooth flow of air.

Move to the brown preventer puffer.

Let's use a preventer medication.

Pretend Puff use a brown preventer medication.

What happens to the airways now? How long will it take for the preventer medication to work?

Encourage the children to discuss the effect of the preventer medication. Depending on the medication, it takes about two weeks to work. Slowly remove the cotton stuffing during the discussion. When the cotton has all been removed, ask the next question.

How should Puff feel now?

Encourage the children to slowly remove the cotton stuffing from their airways and they respond to the question. Puff should feel great! His airways are clear and he can easily breathe.

What will happen if Puff stops using his preventer medication?

Encourage discussion about the cumulative effect, which may not be noticable from day-to-day but will have a big impact over time. Slowly add cotton stuffing to the airway during the discussion. Puff will no longer feel great as his airways become constricted.

Review and wrap up the activity.

Who knows what happens inside our lungs when we have problems with our asthma?

Guide the children to s description of tightening and swelling airways, like the string and cotton stuffing.

How can you help your lungs feel good? Have we found another asthma treasure?

Guide the responses to using the preventer medication as prescribed by their doctor.

Yes, we have found another asthma treasure. Write, "Use asthma medication as told by my doctor" in your asthma diary.