About Project E.R.A.S.E.

Project E.R.A.S.E. (Eradicating Respiratory Asthma in Schools to help children Excel) is a breakthrough in-school program connecting leading asthma specialists to New York City schools to provide low-income children with access to the diagnosis, advice on treatment and ongoing management of asthma and allergies during the school day. All Project E.R.A.S.E. care is provided at no cost to the students’ families or the school system.

Project E.R.A.S.E. doctors visit the targeted schools once a week. The physicians test the children for asthma and monitor them closely to help ensure care. State regulations, as a rule, preclude doctors from prescribing medicine, giving injections or doing invasive testing in the schools. To meet this challenge, the specialists reach out to the primary care physicians—mostly at clinics and emergency rooms—collaborating on courses of treatment. This partnership helps manage the children’s asthma while giving insight to the primary care physicians and creating a true community outreach program Meetings with parents, caregivers and educators to provide educational information and support to build long term asthma management skills are conducted. Project E.R.A.S.E. successfully completed its pilot phase in two District 1 schools in the Lower East Side: P.S. 140, The Nathan Straus Preparatory School of Humanities, and PS 142, Amelia Castro School. School absences, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and associated costs for program participants were reduced. Preliminary data was consistent with the dramatic improvements exhibited in peer reviewed studies going back many years. As Project E.R.A.S.E. grows, it will continue to collect, compile and analyze data to gauge the program's success.

Now in its second year, this unique initiative has expanded to other NYC public schools, in addition to the original pilot schools. A simple, concise model easily replicable in other public schools was created. Citywide expansion to NYC's neediest schools is planned and the program’s design will serve as the model for a nationwide program.

Proper diagnosis and care of asthma will enable underserved asthmatic children to learn how to treat the disease, reengage in a wider range of school activities and maintain an increased quality of life.

Asthma in New York City

Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism and hospitalization among children in New York City and nationwide.¹

• The asthma hospitalization rate for New York City children under 14 years of age is almost two times higher than the national rate.
   
• Among the City’s lowest income communities the asthma hospitalization rate is almost four times higher than the national rate.¹
   

About Asthma

Did you know that asthma...?

• Causes many children to be hospitalized often and can be life threatening
• Is the single leading cause of children missing school, and too many absences can lead to failure in school
• Causes children to have difficulty paying attention to classroom lessons and homework assignments
• Interferes with normal childhood activities and sets children apart from other kids when they don’t participate in these activities
• Is a common childhood illness and half of all children with asthma are not identified and treated

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways sensitive to irritants. During an asthma episode, the airways narrow, often causing a wheezing sound, making it difficult to breathe.

• Asthma is the leading chronic illness of children in the United States and the seventh-ranked chronic health condition overall.
   
• Asthma rates are four times higher among minority populations.
   
• Common asthma triggers include: respiratory infections, colds, vigorous exercise, exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change, and allergic reactions to allergens such as pollen, mold, animal dander, feathers, dust, food, and cockroaches.
   

Asthma Tips For Parents by Dr. Paul Ehrlich

• English Version (PDF)
• Spanish Version (PDF)

¹National Center for Health Statistics. Raw Data from the National Health Interview Survey, U.S., 2003. (Analysis by the American Lung Association).