The Alamance Regional Charitable Foundation is partnering with the Alamance-Burlington School System and the Pediatric Asthma Center to provide equipment needed for children with asthma. Funds that were raised at the foundation’s annual Blizzard Blast gala are being used to purchase nebulizer machines for school offices. Nebulizer machines are used to provide breathing treatments for children when needed. The equipment will be available for students with prescriptions to use and will eliminate the need for students to bring nebulizer machines from home.

The new initiative, which will begin with elementary schools, will also provide aerochambers for students who cannot afford them. The aerochambers are used with inhalers to help children get the proper dosage of medication. The program will also work with local physicians to educate patients and parents on the proper use of the aerochambers.

"This program is important because it will help children and parents who are not financially able to afford proper equipment and will also offer access to proper equipment at school," says Lucy Kernodle, lead nurse for the Alamance-Burlington School System. "Parents will also be educated on the correct use of equipment, which will in turn allow them to have better control of their children's asthma in the event of an asthma attack."

Nebulizers have already been purchased for Audrey Garrett Elementary, Grove Park Elementary and Hawfields Middle School. More schools will receive nebulizers later this year.

The Alamance Regional Foundation also provides funds to help Pediatric Asthma Center patients who are in need and unable to purchase equipment. The center is housed at Alamance Regional and operated in conjunction with Healthy Alamance. The center helps children and their caregivers learn to better manage asthma with the goal of reducing Emergency Department visits and school absences due to asthma. Tammy Bailey, registered respiratory therapist and certified asthma educator, manages the Pediatric Asthma Center.