May is National Asthma Awareness month, so the American Lung Association has just announced the launch of a new tool to help children ages 5-10 control their asthma.

Lungtropolis® is a web-based learning game designed to promote effective asthma management and help motivate both children and their parents to put what they learn from the game into practice.

The parent section of the site features comprehensive tips on caring for a child with asthma.

More than 25 million Americans currently have asthma—including 7 million kids. Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 and is a leading cause of school absences.

Kimberly Reiners, RN, pediatric asthma educator at Cardon Children’s Medical Center, plans to share Lungtropolis® at support group events with children and their parents. “It’s a simple way to learn about important asthma triggers, warning signs, and action steps to take.”

In the Lungtropolis Kids game, children become “Asthma Control Agents” under the tutelage of Dr. Alvi Olé as they fight to defeat the Mucus Mob. As part of the game, players watch videos and answer questions to help them learn about asthma and how to manage it.

Lungtropolis Parents offers caregivers comprehensive information and resources to understand and help manage a child’s asthma, such as advice on using asthma medicines and what to do in an emergency, as well as tips on how to talk to their medical provider—and their child—about managing asthma.

Research showed that children who used the game scored higher than a control group on behaviors that help kids do better with asthma- such as appropriate use of quick-relief medication.

The game boosted their confidence in recognizing warning signs, and overall, increased their knowledge about the condition.

The American Lung Association offers other resources and programs for families living with asthma. More information at lung.org/asthma

RAK Video: Take a peak at a Cardon Children’s asthma education support group and hear Kimberly Reiners, RN, talk about the importance of asthma education:

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