The third week of September marks Asthma Peak Week, the time when asthma attacks, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations historically reach their highest levels of the year, and the Foundation for Asthma and Allergy Impact and Rescue (AAIR) is helping schools across Illinois prepare to respond to asthma emergencies.
Through AAIR’s RESCUE (Resources for Every School Confronting Unexpected Emergencies) program, participating schools receive stock albuterol, medical equipment, and training to help school nurses and staff respond quickly when a student experiences an asthma emergency. These critical treatment resources prevent asthma incidents from escalating into ambulance rides and emergency room visits.
Illinois is a national leader in school-based asthma emergency response, becoming the first state to fully fund a program of this kind in 2023. Since its statewide launch through February 2026, the RESCUE program has:
- De-escalated 5,667 asthma incidents
- Returned 81% of students to class
- Avoided 1,156 emergency room visits
- Saved $9.78 million across the health care system, including $6.48 million in Medicaid savings
Asthma is the leading chronic disease among children and the number one chronic health condition contributing to school absences. An estimated 234,000 children in Illinois have been diagnosed with asthma, and 42% experienced an asthma attack in the past year.
AAIR is encouraging schools to make sure they have the resources and preparation necessary to respond to asthma emergencies throughout the school year. For more information about free emergency treatment kits, visit www.weareaair.org.
