Welsh Adventure Holiday Gives Kids With Asthma Breathing Space, UK

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 08 Jul 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Asthma UK is inviting parents in Wales to sign their kids up for an adventure holiday with a difference this summer.

From 20-26 July Llangrannog, Ceredigion will host a specialist Kick Asthma holiday, providing children and young people with asthma from 12-17 years old with an opportunity to build their confidence and learn to manage their asthma more effectively.

For many youngsters with asthma missing out on exercise can be a normal part of their school lives. Asthma UK's Kick Asthma holidays teach children and young people how to better manage their condition so they can exercise safely and in confidence. The activity holidays are also an opportunity to share experiences and build self-esteem and are open to all children with asthma who also have other related conditions, such as eczema and anaphylaxis.

In addition to learning how to take control of their asthma through informal advice sessions run by healthcare professionals, the Kick Asthma holidays also enable participants to have fun and take part in many physical and social activities ranging from raft building, archery and surfing to T-shirt designing, ten-pin bowling and treasure hunts.

The holiday also provides a break for parents. For some parents of children with asthma, this may be the first time that they have felt confident enough to leave their child with someone else. On the holidays children are closely supervised by specially trained volunteers and health care professionals, so they can participate safely in activities that they may previously have had to miss out on.

One such volunteer helping on the holiday in Llangrannog will be Neil Churchill, Asthma UK's Chief Executive, who says: 'I'm really excited about visiting Llangrannog and attending the Kick Asthma holiday there as it's a great opportunity to meet young people with asthma and hear how the condition affects their lives. I'm particularly interested in finding out the approaches the volunteers and health professionals use to make the children feel more confident about their asthma and look forward to the kayaking we've got planned!'

The need for these holidays was highlighted by research undertaken by Asthma UK and Blue Peter in 2005, which revealed that more than half the children surveyed did not have well-controlled asthma. One third said they did not know or were unsure what triggered their asthma and shockingly one in five were using their blue (reliever) inhaler at least nine times per week, when they shouldn't need to use it more than three times per week.

Feedback from past holidays has shown that the holidays really do help children to improve the management of their asthma and therefore reduce the need for healthcare services.

In a recent survey of parents* they reported:

- a 27% decrease in hospital admissions 3 months after the Kick Asthma holiday
- a 22% decrease in GP visits 3 months after the Kick Asthma holiday
- a 10% decrease in number of school days missed 3 months after the Kick Asthma holiday.

Jenny Parry, Asthma UK's Children & Young People's Development Manager, comments: 'Bullying at school and anxiety about taking part in physical exercise makes dealing with asthma much more difficult for children and their parents. It is a delight to see children leaving the holidays feeling much more confident, supported by others with the same difficulties and able to manage their asthma more effectively. We are also very grateful to Numark for providing much needed equipment for the holidays enabling children to have even more choice of activities.'

Kick Asthma holidays are subsidised by Asthma UK and parents are asked to pay as much as they can afford. The price ranges from £50 to £350 depending on ability to pay. For more information contact Asthma UK's Supporter & Information Team on 08456 03 81 43, email holidays@asthma.org.uk or visit asthma.org.uk.

* Results of a questionnaire from the 2007 holidays were compiled through analysis of evaluation questionnaires sent out to participants and their parents before the holiday, at the end of the holiday and three months after the holiday finished.

Notes

1. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. Asthma UK Cymru is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 260,000 people in Wales whose lives are affected by asthma.

2. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website http://www.asthma.org.uk.

3. Kickasthma.org.uk is Asthma UK's interactive website for children and young people with asthma. The site offers support and advice and includes an asthma dictionary, problem page, games and a messageboard.

4. For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at http://www.asthma.org.uk/adviceline.

Asthma UK