Chronic Medical Conditions

including Allergic Conditions, Asthma, Diabetes and Epilepsy modules 12

Chronic Medical Conditions focuses on four modules: Allergic Conditions, Asthma, Diabetes and Epilepsy. Students learn which part of the body is affected by each condition, how each can be monitored and managed, and how to help and be a friend to people affected by each condition.

Key themes:

  • Allergies, asthma, diabetes, and epilepsy are not contagious.
  • These conditions are chronic and can usually be managed with proper medical care, medications, advance planning, and lifestyle adjustments, but there is presently no cure for any of them.
  • Allergies, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy are “hidden” conditions. You cannot tell by looking at someone whether he or she has any of these conditions.

Program implementation is flexible and can be adapted for your classroom. Each of the allergies, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy topics takes 1 1/4 hours to implement. The modules may be presented on 4 separate days or grouped.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
Informational PowerPoint presentation for each chronic medical condition Students learn about:

  • Reactions to food and environmental allergies.
  • The job of the lungs and what happens to the lungs during an asthma episode.
  • Type I and II diabetes, digestion, insulin and the pancreas.
  • Causes, triggers and common types of seizures.
Small group activity for each chronic medical condition Activities include:

  • An anti-bullying activity that encourages students to include their peers with food allergies at parties and play dates.
  • An interactive activity raises students’ awareness of common asthma triggers in homes, classrooms and the environment.
  • A hands-on activity demonstrates that people with diabetes need to balance diet, insulin and exercise to maintain proper blood sugar levels.
  • An anti-bullying role-play considers bullying from various points of view and introduces the concept of an ally.
DVD: “You Can Do This” In the Epilepsy module, a video shows a tonic-clonic seizure and students learn how to help and be a friend to someone having a seizure.
Guest Speakers Students meet guest speakers who discuss the experience of living with each of the 4 chronic medical conditions.