"Walk for your Lungs" Committee At Work

 

With only 22 days away from the event we are all very excited and a bit anxious.  We are praying that the rain will not come in the morning of the event.

Just a reminder:

Perak Lung Health Day 2013

 

"Walk for your Lungs"

a fun walk and learning event

 

Sunday 19th May

 

6.30 am ~ 11.00 am.

 

Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreation Park (Polo Ground), Ipoh. 

 

We are launching the Asthma Friendly School project on the same day.

 

Free health screening provided by KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital, Hospital Pantai Ipoh, Hospital Fatimah, Perak Community Specialist Hospital and BP Mobile Clinic.

 

Performances by Fitness Embassy & Apana Studio.

Sponsors and Donors:
Takeda, Astra Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi Pasteur, Glaxo Smith Kline, Merck Sharp & Dome, Pfizer, Abbott, Insan Bakti,

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, Boh Tea Plantation, Yee Lee Corporation, Hovid Pharmacy, Yee Thye Biscuit, Chang Jiang Coffee, Nestle, Pagoda Groundnuts.

Pioneer Asthma Friendly Schools:  SMK Methodist (ACS) Ipoh, SMK Ave Maria Convent

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All Walkathon Participants will be given a questionnaire to answer on registration.

Instructions given in the Questionnaire Paper:

1.       Please put on your number tag.

2.       ANSWER all 10 questions (True or False) below. 

3.       Return this question sheet with the answers to the Perak Chest Society stall before 7.45 am.

4.       Assemble in front of PCS stall at 7.45 am for WELCOME SPEECH.

5.       WALKATHON starts at 8.00 am sharp.

6.       WALK 3 full rounds and collect 3 coloured rubber bands from the track marshals.

7.       On arrival at the finish line please proceed to PCS stall to collect your “goodie bag”.

8.       After the walkathon you may visit the health booths and enjoy the performances.

9.       Winners will be judged according to:

a.       Best time to walk 3 full rounds.

b.      Best question score (> 80% correct answers).

10.   PRIZE giving at 10.30 am.  There are 10 prizes.

11.   Event ends at 11.00 am.

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Please come and join us.  Registration fee is only RM 20.00. 

Registration entitlement:

• Associate Membership of Perak Chest Society for 1 year.
• T shirt
• Participate in Walkathon and be able to win one of 10 prizes.
• Goodie bag
• Priority health screening.

All proceeds of the event go to implementing the Asthma Friendly School project for asthmatic students, parents/guardians and school teachers.

For more information please contact RN Leong (05-2556302).

 

 

 

 

Walk for Your Lungs

Event Schedule

6.30 - 7.45 am        Registration. Take Quiz Form and Number

7.00 - 7.45 am        Learn from Posters. Answer and Return Quiz Forms

7.45 - 8.00 am        Welcome Speech

8.00 am                  Walkathon Starts

                                Health Screening

                                Food Music and Dance

10.30 am                Prize Giving

11.00 am                End

Asthma Friendly School logo

Foreword to Asthma Friendly Schools booklet

The Perak Chest Society (PCS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to public chest health education. We collaborate with health care professionals and medical institutions to provide learning opportunities for doctors, nurses, pharmacists and the public.

A School Asthma and Allergy Survey of 732 students was conducted in a primary school in 2007 by the PCS. The results showed that 14% of the students were asthmatics (diagnosed by a doctor, were using some form of asthma medication or had been admitted to hospital for an asthma attack). Another 16% of the students had symptoms suggestive of asthma (wheezing, chest tightness, exercise induced cough, night time cough) and would need to be evaluated by their family doctors.

From the above survey we know that asthma is relatively common problem among school children. This is the main reason why PCS is embarking on the Asthma Friendly School (AFS) project. We need to stress that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways where there is no cure and asthma needs to be diagnosed and controlled early during childhood to prevent permanent airway damage in adulthood.

The AFS project will be launched in conjunction with Perak Lung Health Day 2013 on Sunday 19th May at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recration Park (Polo Ground) in Ipoh.

Uncontrolled asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism. It also causes poor school performance and disruptions for the entire class. School staff members, parents and guardians can play an active role in helping students with asthma manage their disease in school.

Students with controlled asthma function optimally in school. They register better school attendances, remain more attentive during lessons and obtain better exam grades. They have fewer symptoms and are able to participate fully in physical activities. They enjoy field trips and have fewer medical emergencies.

Students in schools which practise good asthma management are able to:

• Take their asthma medication exactly as prescribed.

• Recognize the symptoms and signs of uncontrolled asthma.

• Identify and avoid asthma triggers.

• Monitor asthma with a peak flow meter.

• Act immediately on recognising the early symptoms and signs of an asthma attack.

• Co-manage their asthma with parents, guardians, doctors and school staff.

Please pause awhile and answer the questions below with a “yes” or “no” to find out how asthma friendly is your school or child’s school.

• Is your school free of tobacco smoke at all times?

• Does the school maintain good indoor air quality? Does it reduce or eliminate allergens and irritants that can make asthma worse?

• Is there a designated school staff member who is able to give the school guidance on medicines, physical education and field trips for students with asthma?

• Can students take medicines at school as recommended by their doctor and parents? Can students carry their own asthma medicines?

• Does your school have a written, individualized emergency plan for each student? Does the plan make clear what action to take during a severe asthma attack? Whom to call? When to call?

• Does someone teach school staff about asthma, asthma management plans, and asthma medicines? Does someone teach all students about asthma and how to help a classmate who has it?

• Do students with exercise-induced asthma have access to their medicine before exercise? Can they choose or modify physical activities when medically necessary?


If the answer to any question above is “no”, students in the school may be facing obstacles to asthma management. Please contact the Perak Chest Society to obtain further information and assistance.

This booklet is created to assist students, parents, guardians and school staff in asthma management. It offers practical information but is not a textbook on asthma management. Please consult the doctor who is looking after the student’s medical needs for more information.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge with a big “thank you” a whole list of people and companies who laboured tirelessly, sponsored generously and helped make this Asthma Friendly School project possible.  The students with asthma appreciate your care.

Dr. Leong Oon Keong

President,

Perak Chest Society.



1st March 2013

World Asthma Day 2013

This public forum on Saturday 4th May 2013 in KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital will see some 70 students, parents and teachers from SMK Methodist (ACS) and SMJK Ave Maria Convent coming.  Members of the Perak Chest Society will be providing a preview of the Asthma Friendly School project to headmasters from several schools.