Asthma Swim is an innovative approach to pediatric asthma. It is an after-school program developed and run by college students under the mentorship of pediatric pulmonologists.
The RI Department of Health estimates that 18.8% of children in the state have been diagnosed with asthma. This is 50% more than the national rate of 12.6%. RI’s unusually large proportion of asthma cases are not evenly distributed among children in the state. According to Kids Count RI, between 1998 and 2000, 17% of hospitalizations for asthma were Hispanic children and 12% were African American children, while RI’s children are only 14% Hispanic and 5% African American. Cities like Providence are also disproportionately affected by asthma. Between 1998 and 2000, the rate of hospitalizations for childhood asthma was 4.9 per 1,000 in Providence—almost double the 2.8 per 1,000 rate for the state as a whole.
Many of these hospitalizations are preventable. With proper medication usage, avoidance of asthma triggers, and regular monitoring, children and parents can prevent asthma attacks. The Asthma Swimming Program in Providence’s South Side provides education to children with asthma about how to control their asthma and avoid triggers. The two after-school sessions per week include:
- Swim Workouts – Because the warm, humid air above a pool does not irritate the lungs like cold outdoor air, swimming is a form of exercise well-suited to the asthmatic condition. Through twice-weekly swim lessons, participants increase their lung capacity and debunk the myth that asthmatics cannot or should not exercise.
- Asthma Knowledge Activities – Volunteers lead participants in classroom activities and games that promote asthma knowledge and management techniques, and increase participants’ comfort with talking about and controlling their asthma.
- Academic Support – Recognizing that severely asthmatic children are frequently absent from school, volunteers work one-on-one with students in priority academic areas.