Jul 8, 2009 7:03 pm US/Eastern
How To Reduce Asthma Attacks At Home
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
(CBS)
In New York City, asthma attacks are the leading cause of hospitalizations for children. However, there are things parents can do in their homes to help reduce trips to the emergency room.
At 10-years-old, Sapphire Villamil does her best to control her asthma attacks. She was diagnosed at 6 months old, and now helps her four younger brothers and sisters, who all have asthma.
"And then you have to turn it on and you put your mouth right here, and you hold this," Sapphire said while demonstrating how to use a nebulizer.
"Sometimes when my brother has to come out I give him the medicine and I turn it on for him and everything," Sapphire said.
"Yeah we have to go to the emergency room. He has to sit there on oxygen. She's had to sit on an oxygen machine," said mother Suzanne Figueroa.
Suzanne went through an evaluation with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York to minimize anything in the home that may trigger an attack, such as too many cleaning products.
Figueroa is a smoker, and while she always smokes outside her apartment, medical experts say she's still putting her children at risk.
"When I talk, I can still have the smoke in my breathe and it comes out. I didn't know that," Figueroa said.
Going green is great, but can also be expensive, so feel free to dilute the products with water, or go back to the basics.
"Stick with some of the more natural things like plain old Clorox and water or even vinegar and water," said Sandra Eger-Mcternan, Pediatric Nurse Specialist with VNSNY.
Hepa vacuum cleaners are effective against dust mites, but are expensive.
The best thing for asthmatics is to have no carpet in the house.
Also, stay away from things that have strong fragrances like candles, room deodorizers, perfume and hairspray.
"You have to stick with more natural deodorants that are scent free, also the body lotions that are scent free," Eger-Mcternan said. "Go with the ivory soap, basic has no scent and it cleans it does the job."
While it's best not to have a pet around asthmatic children, if you do, clean them often and keep them out of the bedrooms.
"It's also a good idea to use an air conditioner as much as possible but make sure you clean the air filter at least once a week. If you use a fan, you need to clean the blades and make sure the area is dust-free before you use it, and avoid using a humidifier which can be a breeding ground for mold," Eger-Mcternan said.
Handwashing is another point, and the first thing kids should do when they get home.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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