Putting on Airs Program
The Putting on Airs Program complements the Medical Home Program by providing in-home asthma education and management.
A Certified Asthma Educator works with children and their families to review prescribed medications, provide proper usage instructions, and educate them on recognizing asthma signs and symptoms.
The Certified Community Health Worker trained in asthma will assist families to identify social influencers of health, connect to community resources and provide support to families.
Additionally, an environmental assessment of the home is conducted to identify potential asthma triggers while offering remediation strategies. Offering cleaning supplies, dusting vacuums and hygrometers as some examples.
Eligibility Criteria
Program eligibility is reviewed for each case individually. A child may be eligible for the AIRS program if they live in the greater Waterbury area, Naugatuck Valley and the greater Torrington area; are under 18 years of age and have an asthma diagnosis with uncontrolled symptoms.
Referral Information
Referrals to the program can be made by anyone including parents, medical providers, schools or community partners. Once referred, the AIRS team will determine eligibility and follow up with families to determine eligibility.
For more information about this program, please contact us at (203) 709-5716.
View our Brochures
Putting on AIRS Brochure - English
Putting on AIRS Brochure - Spanish
Asthma Triggers
Asthma triggers are things that make your asthma worse.
You can help avoid asthma flare-ups by cutting down exposure to your triggers.
Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Contact with indoor allergens and irritants can trigger asthma symptoms, such as cough, wheeze and shortness of breath.
The most common asthma triggers are:
- Secondhand Smoke (includes smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaping devices and marijuana)
- Cockroaches and Mice
- Dust Mites
- Molds
- Pets and other animals with fur or feathers
- Cleaning products and aerosols
How the program helps:
Together the Asthma Educator and Community Health Worker will teach families how to control their child’s asthma, tailored specifically for each family’s needs.
Asthma Coalition
Putting on AIRS brings asthma awareness through twice yearly asthma coalitions and provide advocacy and awareness to community stakeholders. Email the program to be added to the coalition list for meeting information at Airs@trinityhealthofne.org.
Resources
- CDC Asthma: Click on this link, About Asthma | Asthma | CDC, to learn more about asthma.
- Smoking Cessation: Cigarette smoking and vaping have long been known to cause adverse effects on the lungs. Smoke is a trigger to children and adults with asthma and can lead to flare ups. Smoke can cause the airways to become inflamed and lead to decreased lung function, and respiratory illness in children. While quitting can be hard, the CT Quitline at committoquitct.com has resources to help.
- Air Quality Checker: Click on this link, AirNow.gov and put in your zip code to check the air quality in your town.