Texas A&M Coastal Bend Health Education Center provides education at annual asthma camp

June 14, 2017

ROCKPORT, Texas — The Texas A&M Coastal Bend Health Education Center sent two members of its Asthma Education Program to provide educational support to more than 35 campers at the annual Camp Easy Breathers hosted by Driscoll Children’s Hospital during the week of June 12-16.

Selina Lopez, health educator and respiratory therapist, taught medication use, including the importance of using spacers, to the campers.

“This camp is a wonderful way for children who live with asthma to express themselves, try new things and build their confidence all without having to worry about asthma attacks or flare-ups,” Lopez said.

Lopez also taught an asthma education class on the final day of camp, which was geared toward showing the campers’ parents how to manage their children’s asthma symptoms. This class was intended to reinforce the education the kids received at camp.

Besides learning how to manage their asthma, the kids also took part in many physical and social activities. Campers were able to play basketball, swim in the pool and participate in archery, among other activities.

The camp, which is in its 16th year, gives kids who have asthma a chance to better understand their asthma and how to live healthy, active lives.

“We want to teach these kids that asthma isn’t in charge of their lives. They are,” said Lopez.

-Les D. Cockrell