Boy Scouts of America

Asthma

SUMMARY

Every day in the U.S., people die from asthma, a chronic lung disease that can worsen at any time and for many different reasons. When asthma is controlled, it should not interfere with a person’s activity; however, when not controlled, it can cause life-threatening symptoms.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Prepared leaders:

  • Review each Annual Health and Medical Record for health issues, including asthma, before any event.
  • Understand the asthma action plan developed by the parent and youth with their health care provider that explains what to do for an asthma attack.
  • Know what triggers the person’s asthma and when to get advanced medical care, especially for remote locations.
  • Become familiar with the medications used to treat an asthma attack and how they are used.

Asthma symptoms often include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Chest tightness

Symptoms might be severe enough to limit activity or even result in death if left untreated. Asthma symptoms might be triggered simply by exercise, smoky air, or cold air. Youth, parents, and adult leaders should be very familiar with the individual’s triggers and the medications used to treat asthma. Medications for treatment should always be readily available.

Generally, the more medications a person needs to treat asthma symptoms, the more difficult it is to control. The need for steroid pills (prednisone, Medrol, Decadron, etc.) or injections means that the asthma is hard to control, and the person will be more likely to have symptoms and difficulty with some activities.

TREATMENT

The treatment of asthma depends upon its severity. Those with mild disease may only require a rescue inhaler to use when needed, while others will require long-term control medications. It is very important that a person follows the recommendations of their health care provider. Commonly used asthma medications include:

Fast-acting medications

  • Albuterol (ProAir, Proventil, Ventolin)
  • Levalbuterol (Xopenex)
  • Epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen, Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q, etc.)

Controller medications

  • Steroid inhalers (Asmanex, Flovent, Pulmicort, Qvar)
  • Combination inhalers (Advair, AirDuo, Breo, Symbicort, Trelegy, etc.)
  • Oral medications (Singulair, Accolate)

Injections used in very serious asthma: Xolair, Nucala, Dupixent, etc.

 

RESOURCES

 

Reviewed March 8th 2024. 

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.