‘Asthma Fun Day’ At Valley Mission

An “Asthma Fun Day” will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Valley Mission Park.

It will feature new medications and respiratory treatment, asthma specialists, an ambulance tour, an asthma sufferer teaching karate and controlled breathing, and Tiny the Clown painting faces.

Valley Mission Park is at Mission and Bowdish.

Asthma affects about one in 20 people nationwide, and more than one in 10 in the Spokane area. Asthma claimed 5,487 lives nationwide in 1994, the last year that numbers are available. The number of people suffering from asthma is also increasing, almost doubling between 1982 and 1994, despite advances in asthma treatment and preventive care.

Organizers with the American Lung Association of Washington hope today’s events will help teach children, families, teachers and the general public about asthma, its triggers and how the community can help.

The lung association also helped create the Asthma Education Network in Washington - a tollfree network that allows patients and families to have access to asthma specialists. The hot line number is (888) 990-1900.

, DataTimes