The purpose of this public education campaign is to find adults and children with potential asthma. These events are usually held at schools, churches, health fairs, shopping malls and other community centers. Volunteers are always welcome. The sponsors may conduct a series of pilot programs in 2001 to determine if workplace screenings should be incorporated into the nationwide campaign. An estimated 10,000 adults and children were screened, with more than half referred for a professional diagnosis.
Allergists continue to select screening sites that reach the most children and parents.
Dr. Greg Bensch, Stockton, Calif., knew his community's Asperagus Festival would provide an excellent opportunity to reach people of all ages as they tried out anything and everything made of asparagus at an event that draws more than 100,000 people over three days. They may have suspected something with their breathing was going on, but weren't sure. We also saw a lot of people who already knew they had asthma, but who weren't being managed as well as they should be. I found many people who had asthma and did not know it. They were suffering and limiting their activities.