Press Releases: Georgia
June 27, 2002
Kids learn the ABCs of asthma at the Zap Asthma Camp
ATLANTA, Ga. – Helping children with asthma to better understand the illness and learn how to manage it can be difficult. But one approach —an engaging 30-minute puppet show—sure makes it a lot of fun. The show is presented to elementary-aged children by Kaiser Permanente as a free community service.
The puppet show, called "The ABCs of Asthma," blends comedy and facts on the dangers of asthma. Colorful characters, such as Bronchi the Airosauros, teach children basic asthma education. For example, children learn how the condition affects their body and why it's important to take their medications on time, even when they seem well. The characters also talk about known asthma triggers in the home environment.
Asthma is a serious chronic illness that affects more than 17 million Americans, almost one-third of whom are children. Eleven percent of children living in Georgia have asthma; the national average is 5 to 7 percent. The ZAP Asthma Camp is designed to educate and support inner-city families with asthmatic children, making sure they have the resources and knowledge to prevent asthma attacks.
"The ABCs of Asthma" shows begin at 10 a.m. on the following dates:
- Wednesday, July 3 and Wednesday, July 24
Capital Area Mosaic Recreation Center, 341 Kelly Street, Atlanta
- Tuesday, July 9
Whitehead Boys & Girls Club, 1900 Lakewood Ave. SE, Atlanta
- Thursday, July 11
Perkerson Parks and Recreation, 770 Deckner Ave, Atlanta (off Metropolitan Parkway)
- Tuesday, July 16
Dunbar Recreation Center, 477 Windsor Street, Atlanta (off 85S, Fulton Street exit)
Note for reporters: If you would like to attend a performance and/or tie in an interview with a Kaiser Permanente pediatrician who treats children with asthma, please contact Matthew Grund at (404) 364-7074.
Kaiser Permanente is the state of Georgia's largest nonprofit health plan, serving the health care needs of Atlanta metro area residents for 22 years. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc. currently provides comprehensive health care services to approximately 275,000 members through 15 medical facilities in a 28-county service, and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians. The Health Plan provided more than $5 million in community benefit programs and services.
