The Critical Role RTs Play in Asthma Education

Each May, we observe Asthma Awareness Month to share and celebrate the importance of education, research, and improved treatment for all patients. As RTs know all too well, asthma isn’t just a periodic struggle to catch one’s breath; it is a chronic disease characterized by long-term airway inflammation, swelling, and mucus production. The disease’s impact can be felt across the United States:

• Approximately 26.8 million people (8% of the U.S. population) live with asthma.

• Asthma leads to 1 million emergency room visits and over 10 million missed school days annually

• Tragically, roughly 10 people die every day from asthma-related complications

Take action today to improve care and education by downloading and sharing AARC’s graphic highlighting RT’s critical work, listening to a podcast about AAIR, an organization that is helping kids with asthma and allergies live without fear of future asthma attacks, and expanding your skills with AARC asthma resources.