Los Angeles and the surrounding areas are being impacted by devastating wildfires. Natural disasters like wildfires can leave families without their homes, power, and make it harder to get food and medicines. Because of the widespread destruction caused by these fires, the situation is dire for many families. Many more may have to evacuate as the situation changes.
How Wildfires Affect Asthma
Wildfires do not only affect people in the immediate area. Smoke can blow far distances, impacting people hundreds of miles away. Smoke contains tiny particles that affect air quality. Poor air quality can worsen asthma symptoms. Children and people with respiratory diseases like asthma are at high risk for asthma episodes when air quality is poor.
Los Angeles Dream Center – accepting food, personal protective equipment, clothing, household goods, among other items
It’s Bigger Than Us – accepting clothing, bottled water, hygiene products, books, toys, comfort items, bedding, snacks, baby supplies, among other items
Hollywood Food Coalition – accepting items from their wish lists, including allergy-friendly foods
As the communities impacted by the wildfires recover, the need for supplies will continue. You can help by sending donations to people in need. We will update this blog as we learn more information.
Stay up to date with important asthma and allergy news with our newsletter.
Schools are meant to be safe places where children can learn and thrive. But for students with asthma and allergies, school environments can affect their health. Many school campuses contain a variety of asthma and allergy triggers, such as mold, dust, diesel exhaust, and strong cleaning chemicals.
To address these challenges, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is proud to release the 2025 State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools. This report identifies the states leading the way in creating healthy environments for students with asthma and allergies.
What Is AAFA’s State Honor Roll Report?
The State Honor Roll evaluates and recognizes state laws and policies that address the needs of children with asthma and allergies in schools. The report focuses on 27 core policies critical to student health. States that meet at least 22 of these standards earn a place on the State Honor Roll, and states that meet 17-21 standards receive honorable mention.
2025 State Honor Roll and Honorable Mention States
We celebrate Connecticut and the District of Columbia for making the State Honor Roll and their outstanding commitment to protecting students with asthma and allergies. These states are setting an example by putting policies in place that prioritize children’s health and learning environments.
We also recognize the following honorable mention states for making major strides in improving policies that support the health of students with asthma and allergies: California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.
How Can Schools Improve?
The report highlights 5 key ways states can improve their school policies:
Expand emergency medicine stocking laws. States must ensure schools have stock emergency medicines, such as quick-relief asthma inhalers and easy-to-use epinephrine options. They should also have trained staff to give the medicines.
Ensure full-time school nurses. Every school needs at least 1 full-time nurse to manage chronic conditions and give immediate care during emergencies.
Adopt comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) plans. Clean indoor air policies, including proper HVAC maintenance and mold prevention, are essential for student health.
Strengthen tobacco and vaping policies. Banning smoking and vaping on all school grounds and functions protects children with asthma and allergies from harmful exposures.
Transition to zero-emission school buses. Electric school buses reduce air pollution and help prevent asthma flare-ups caused by diesel emissions.
Why Do These Policies Matter?
Asthma is a leading cause of missed school days, with millions of school days missed each year. Schools that lack strong health-focused policies may put children at risk, especially during the fall when asthma peaks due to several factors, including the start of the respiratory infection season.
Poor indoor air quality, the spread of respiratory infections, and environmental triggers such as bus emissions and on-campus smoking all contribute to worsening asthma. By applying comprehensive policies, schools can reduce asthma and allergy triggers. This can help students stay healthy and succeed academically.
Join the Effort to Advocate for Healthier Schools
AAFA’s State Honor Roll is more than a report – it’s a tool for change. By advocating for these policies, you can help create safe and healthy learning environments for all students.
“Asthma continues to be a leading cause of missed days of school,” said AAFA’s President and CEO, Kenneth Mendez. “This unfortunate reality highlights the urgent need for states to adopt policies that support students with asthma. This report should serve as a call to action for states to advance meaningful policy change in 2025 and beyond.”
Visit StateHonorRoll.org to explore the full report and learn how you can advocate for stronger policies in your state. Let’s work together to ensure every child has a healthy environment to learn and grow.
Acknowledgments
The 2025 State Honor Roll™ Report is an independent research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and made possible by funding support from Amgen, DBV, Kaléo, Pfizer, PhRMA, Sanofi, Regeneron, and Viatris.
Mary MMI don't understand how a feather allergy is rare when my pediatrician told my parents 6 decades ago that I was allergic & could not use a feather pillow. he told them down was ok though which now makes no sense to me. I was switched to a down pillow then. I've always bought allergen-free organic pillows on my own. Currently looking for one now. Best wishes. [ more ]
MizWheezieI'm also allergic to feathers, and I've found that any product that contains Down triggers an asthma attack - Especially down pillows. 😨 [ more ]
Each year, wildfires rage across the U.S. Smoke in the air contains tiny particles that affect air quality. These particles can irritate your eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Poor air quality can worsen asthma symptoms. Children and those with respiratory disease like asthma are at high risk for asthma episodes when the air quality is poor.
Wildfires do not only affect those in the immediate fire area. Smoke can blow many miles away and impact people hundreds of miles away.
Be Prepared to Evacuate
If you live in an area that is prone to wildfires, you may need to prepare to evacuate. You will need to manage your asthma and any other health conditions in the event of an emergency.
Have an emergency kit ready to go in case you need to leave your home quickly. Wear a mask with a particulate respirator. Look for NIOSH and N95 or P100 printed on the mask. It should have two straps and should cover your nose and chin. Carry your quick-relief asthma medicine with you wherever you go.
Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke
If you are in an area affected by wildfire smoke, take precautions to protect yourself and your family from the poor air quality. If you are "down wind" from active fires, it is important to watch your air quality.
This color-coded chart from AirNow can help you understand the Air Quality Index (AQI) in your area.
Stay indoors as much as possible and reduce physical activity outside.
Keep window and doors closed to help prevent polluted outside air from getting in. Keep children in rooms/areas with cleaner air.
Avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves and candles.
Don't do things in your home that stirs up particles already inside your home.
Run your air conditioner if you have one. Set the air intake to "recirculate" and keep the filter clean. If you don't have air conditioning, staying inside with the windows closed may become dangerous if the weather is extremely hot. Seek alternative shelter.
If you must go outdoors, wear a mask with a particulate respirator. Look for NIOSH and N95 or P100 printed on the mask. It should have two straps and should cover your nose and chin.
Disasters generate debris that can include building rubble, trees and shrubs, personal property, ash and charred wood. Follow your community management guidelines for disposal. Learn more from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about handling debris.
Smoke and ash contain harmful particles that can irritate even healthy lungs.
If you have to clean up ash on your property, wear a mask with a particulate respirator. Wash your clothes and shower as soon as possible after exposure.
Keep children away from areas with ash until it has been cleaned.
Take steps to improve your indoor air quality as much as possible. Improve your home's indoor air quality by using CERTIFIED Asthma & Allergy Friendly® products, such as air filters, air cleaners, HVAC systems, vacuums, and more. To find out if a product meets our scientific standards to become CERTIFIED, look for this mark on the product's package or advertisements:
Updated January 8, 2025
It is important to stay up to date on news about asthma and allergies. By joining our community and following our blog, you will receive tips about managing your health. Our community also provides an opportunity to connect with other patients who manage these conditions for support.
AAFA Community ServicesWe updated this blog post on Aug. 19, 2020, to include information on extra precautions you need to take during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ more ]
Zulema C.Thank you for sharing your insights on this, @Jerry Shier ! This additional information about shortness of breath is very helpful! [ more ]
Jerry ShierI would like to share one other symptom from exercise that can cause shortness of breath. This is hyperventilation or breathing rapidly. This may trigger bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airways) in someone with asthma, the same way exercise by itself can. b It may be helpful to know that Individuals without asthma can also feel short of breath from hyperventilation but without bronchoconstriction or narrowing of their airways. Shortness of breath from exercise is not an uncommon... [ more ]
Some major asthma inhaler manufacturers announced $35 a month caps on out-of-pocket costs. The price cap will apply to people with commercial/private insurance (through your job or federal or state marketplace) or no insurance. At some pharmacies, the savings will be automatic. If your pharmacy doesn’t participate in the automatic savings, you can use a savings card to get the discount.
If you have government-funded insurance (such as Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or TRICARE), you won’t qualify for a price cap, but you may qualify for a patient assistance program that can reduce what you pay.
If you have commercial insurance but AstraZeneca inhalers are not covered in your plan: You or your health care providers can ask for prior authorization. Or you can ask your doctor about trying another inhaler option.
If you don’t have insurance: You can use the $35 savings card for people without insurance.
Savings cards for people with no insurance (requires registration to access the card):
If you have government-funded insurance: If you use Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or TRICARE, visit AZ&Me. You can apply for assistance to receive free medicines. They will decide if you qualify based on where you live, insurance status, and income.
If you are a health care provider or pharmacist: Visit AstraZeneca’s patient support site or call 1-800-236-9933 for more information to support your patients.
How you can save on Boehringer Ingelheim inhalers:
If you have commercial insurance: If you qualify, your cost will automatically be discounted when you buy these inhalers at participating retail pharmacies. If your cost is more than $35, download and use a savings card.
Savings cards for people with commercial insurance or no insurance:
If you have commercial insurance or no insurance: Download the GSK “Pay No More Than $35” coupon and give it to your pharmacist.
If you have government-funded insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or TRICARE: You may qualify for the GSK Patient Assistance Program for Anoro Ellipta, Arnuity Ellipta, Breo Ellipta, Incruse Ellipta, Serevent Diskus, and Trelegy Ellipta. Visit the GSK Patient Assistance Program webpage to see if you qualify.
Moe M.Absolutely @Beth Wallace ! Right there with you. AAFA will keep working with policymakers to take additional steps to lower costs, including through government insurance like Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE. The pricing system is very complicated and there is still a lot of work to do to ensure everyone has access to affordable asthma medications. Affordable access to healthcare is one of AAFA's key policy issues . [ more ]
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America focuses relentlessly on saving and improving the lives of people with asthma and allergies.
The dedication of our team, supporters, and community partners helped us achieve significant milestones this year. Your support transformed lives. From award-winning awareness and advocacy campaigns to life-changing support and education programs, some of our top accomplishments include:
IMPROVING ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY TO ASTHMA AND ALLERGY CARE
The complex drug pricing ecosystem in the U.S. can block access to affordable asthma medicines – particularly for the people who need them most. With your support, we led a national conversation about the importance of access to affordable life-saving asthma medications. Our advocacy helped pave the way toward lower costs for essential asthma medicines when three major inhaler manufacturers announced $35-a-month price caps earlier this year.
AAFA’s leadership in this space earned recognition from the Biden Administration. We were the only asthma and allergy patient advocacy organization in attendance for a White House briefing on the high cost of asthma inhalers.
Recognizing Our Impact
Our media coverage on inhaler prices won a Silver Anthem Award, which recognizes outstanding work by nonprofits in raising awareness through earned media.
EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH THROUGH AAFA’S HEAL PROGRAM
Thanks to AAFA’s Health Equity Advancement and Leadership (HEAL) program, over 250 people are managing their asthma better. HEAL serves communities with the greatest asthma burden to provide:
Asthma self-management resources
Home assessments to identify asthma and allergy triggers
And additional support services
One HEAL participant shares: “I would encourage anyone with asthma to get involved. The resources and community support have changed my life.”
Click to view larger image
PROVIDING TOOLS TO HELP PEOPLE TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH
AAFA expanded educational programs and tools to increase understanding of asthma and allergies and how to manage these conditions. In 2024, AAFA launched a new podcast, aired several public service announcements, and expanded our educational programming:
The AAFAnoon Chats podcast discussed news, research, and other information to help our community manage asthma and allergies. So far, our four episodes have reached over 13,500 people.
AAFA effectively raised public awareness about asthma and allergic diseases through a series of public service announcements and outreach to the media.
Our national TV PSAs focused on asthma in childhood, pregnancy and asthma, and asthma peak month. Each of these PSAs reached 180 million households.
AAFA’s President and CEO Kenneth Mendez was featured on a radio and TV tour in September to raise awareness about “asthma peak month,” when many conditions combine to worsen asthma symptoms. The pieces were featured in 8 of the top 20 Asthma Capitals and reached 89 million people – four times the reach of our 2023 media tour.
AAFA offered several educational programs on asthma, food allergies, eosinophilic esophagitis, atopic dermatitis, chronic spontaneous urticaria, and nasal polyps. This means we can help more people than ever become knowledgeable on how to manage asthma and allergic diseases.
Over 6,000 people attended our educational programs for people who live with or manage these chronic conditions.
Over 7,500 health care professionals attended our continuing education programs on treating asthma and allergic conditions.
AAFA provided personalized support to help people in the everyday management of asthma and allergies by providing resources and support to over 55,000 people on our two online support communities. AAFA also responded to 1,228 inquiries submitted to AAFA’s Support Center and 268 questions submitted to AAFA’s Ask the Allergist service.
ELEVATING PATIENT VOICES IN RESEARCH
Throughout 2024, we strengthened connections between patients and groundbreaking research opportunities, ensuring their voices and needs remain central to innovation. In 2024, AAFA:
Helped recruit for 23 different research studies and clinical trials
Published 6 manuscripts in medical journals
Presented 7 posters at medical conferences
AAFA released reports to help raise awareness on important topics that impact asthma and allergy management. Major publications included:
2024 Allergy Capitals report detailed the most challenging cities in the U.S. for living with allergies and provided insight into the factors impacting seasonal allergies. This report includes information on seasonal allergy management and suggests ways policymakers can work to improve public health. The 2024 report also calls attention to the urgency of the climate crisis, which is making allergy seasons longer and more intense.
Recognizing Our Impact
Our Allergy Capitals report won a Silver Anthem Award, which recognizes outstanding work by nonprofits in raising awareness by showing an organization’s impact.
The Asthma Capitals report consistently delivers as one of our higher-performing reports. This report represents a key element of our broader Asthma Peak Month Awareness activities. Asthma Capitals-related media coverage had a potential viewership of 499 million views.
Life with Nasal Polyps report documents the patients' journey with nasal polyps and health care providers’ awareness of and practices around this rare but increasing condition.
EDUCATION ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY
AAFA supports clean, safe air for everyone and urges the adoption of strong standards and enforcement of these standards to reduce the emission of harmful air pollutants that impact climate change. In 2024, we advocated for reduced emissions from cars and trucks. We also pushed for better indoor air quality in schools where asthma is a top reason for student absenteeism.
Kenneth Mendez appeared on an episode of George to the Rescue, which educated families on indoor air quality and the importance of having a healthy living space, especially when you have asthma and allergies.
AAFA’s Certification Program provided essential expertise on indoor air quality and air filtration to leaders across the globe.
CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products donated to HEAL program participants included:
Rabbit Air® donated 19 air cleaners
Renegade donated 54 bottles of Sweat X Sport Free and Clear laundry detergent
AAFA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with asthma and allergic diseases. Our community is here for you 24/7. You can connect with others who understand what it is like to live with asthma and allergies. You're not alone.
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