The West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program has strived for over a decade to promote laws and policies that improve the health of those with and without asthma. WVAEPP along with our partners, the WVAC membership, played an instrumental role in strongly advocating for the passage of the “inhaler bill” into law and also, in the development and initiation of the “school bus idling” policy for West Virginia schools to improve air quality.
The WVAEPP also encourages all businesses and organizations to review their own health and wellness policies and practicies or to develop new ones to improve the well-being of their employees and their customers by offering a safe health focused environment.
School Asthma Policies Can Save Lives – an indepth look and review from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of how by simply changing school policy can save the lives of the children they teach. Click here for more information.
School Bus Idling and Your Child’s Asthma
In West Virginia, more than 210,000 students ride the school bus. Diesel exhaust from idling school buses can accumulate on and around the bus and pose a health risk, particularly to children. The Environmental Protection Agency and the American Lung Association rank diesel exhaust among the air pollutants that pose the greatest public health risk. Exposure to diesel exhaust can cause lung damage and exacerbates asthma and existing allergies. What can be done about it?
Learn more about school bus idling … (PDF)
Senate Bill No. 53
Allowance for student health services.
Learn more about Senate Bill No. 53 … (PDF)
The Inhaler Bill
The Inhaler Bill, which allows students to carry and use a quick relief rescue inhaler while in school and at school-sponsored events, was put into effect on July 1, 2004.
Learn more about the Inhaler Bill … (PDF)
What is Health Advocacy and How Can I Help?
Health advocacy refers to and encompasses direct services to an individual or family as well as activities that promote health and access to health care in communities and the larger public. Advocates support and promote the rights of patients in the health care arena, help build capacity to improve community health and enhance health policy initiatives focused on available, safe and quality care.
Each year, Americans spend more than $2 trillion on health care, and a large part of this spending is due to preventable illnesses and diseases, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because of this problem, health advocates work to limit the financial, physical and emotional costs of preventable illnesses.
You’re Just a Click Away from becoming an active health advocate! It’s easy to be an advocate – you can write, email, use social media, or call your local, state, or US representatives about an issues or topic that concerns you, your family, or to discuss topics listed on this site especially those that are a focus in the Strategic Plan for Addressing Asthma in West Virginia.
For a listing of State and Federal elected officials click here.
For a listing of West Virginia legislature elected officials click here.