May started out strong with an appearance to promote World Asthma Day. World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. This event takes place each year on the first Tuesday in May. Asthma is affected by smoking, both first hand and secondhand. Tobacco smoke acts as a powerful trigger of asthma symptoms. When a person inhales tobacco smoke, irritating substances settle in the moist lining of the airways. These substances can cause an attack in a person who has asthma. In addition, tobacco smoke damages tiny hair-like structures in the airways called cilia. Normally, cilia sweep dust and mucus out of the airways. Tobacco smoke damages cilia so they are unable to work, allowing dust and mucus to accumulate in the airways. Smoke also causes the lungs to make more mucus than normal. As a result, even more mucus can build up in the airways, triggering an attack. Inhaling second-hand smoke, also called "passive smoke" or "environmental tobacco smoke," may be even more harmful than actually smoking. Second-hand smoke is especially harmful to people who already have asthma. When a person with asthma is exposed to second-hand smoke, he or she is more likely to experience the wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath associated with asthma.
Public School 53 invited me to be the guest speaker for an assembly of fourth and fifth graders. I spoke to the kids about my platform T.E.A.C.H. and how they can remain smokefree. I also went around to each classroom to visit the students. The student body even greeted me with a handmade welcome sign! It was another successful T.E.A.C.H. appearance.
My friend Gary
My friend Angelina
P.S. 53 Principal Annette Esposito
PS 53 Physical Education Teacher Barbara Pravato
