Healthy Hoops® Helps Student Athletes Manage Asthma
Brianna Neace
| 2 min read
More than 125 attendees came out to Ypsilanti High School in Washtenaw County on Saturday, Oct. 22 to learn how to stay active while managing asthma symptoms and living a healthy lifestyle. Hosted by Blue Cross Complete of Michigan, the event featured AmeriHealth Caritas’ award-winning asthma education program. “A top concern from children who are diagnosed with asthma is how it will impact their ability to participate in sports or exercise,” said Dr. Donald Beam, Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross Complete. “At Healthy Hoops, we teach that asthma is a manageable, chronic disease that, with the proper treatment, doesn’t have to hold kids back from leading active, fun-filled lives. The keys to a successful asthma management strategy are identification, education about triggers, taking proper controller medication and learning how to manage an emergency.” Families received asthma control testing, action plan consultations and spacer and inhaler demonstrations. Several volunteers were on hand to perform 80 asthma screenings for children, and to help coordinate the day's activities. “Asthma is one of the leading causes of preventable emergency room visits and hospitalization among children,” said Heidi Chan, market president for Blue Cross Complete. “Our goal is to provide young people and their families with tools that can help them decrease the time spent in hospitals and increase their ability to function as healthy and active kids.” Kids also participated in basketball clinics featuring former Detroit Pistons players Jermaine Jackson, Earl Cureton and John Long, who also signed autographs for attendees. In addition to basketball and health screenings, attendees were also treated to healthy cooking demonstrations and food samples from Chef Paul Penney, as well as a performance by health educator and motivational rap artist, Sterlen Barr. The Blue Cross Complete of Michigan “Healthy Hoops” program received integral community support from the following organizations: Ypsilanti Community Schools, Ypsilanti Health Center, the Washtenaw County Health Department, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, the University of Michigan Office of Diversity, Food Gatherers, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. Healthy Hoops is a registered trademark of AmeriHealth Caritas. If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
