Asthma and Allergy Education
Environmental Control Measures
Environmental Control Measures for Allergies
Pollen
- Avoid the outdoors on high pollen count days
- High levels of pollen occur late evening and early morning
- keep house/car windows closed
- Use HEPA filters for air filters and vacuums
- Change clothes and take a shower after being outdoors
- Dust with a damp cloth and vacuum weekly
- Do not hang laundry outdoors to dry
- Wear a mask and safety glasses while doing yard work
- Take medications (such as antihistamines) before going outdoors especially with high pollen counts and extended exposure time
Dust Mite
- Keep bedrooms as clean as possible
- All bedding should be washable and washed weekly in 130 degree or above water
- Use Dacron or foam pillows instead of feather
- Enclose pillows and mattresses in protective dust mite covers
- Wear a mask while cleaning
- Dust with a damp cloth twice weekly
- Remove carpet and replace with wooden or Linoleum flooring
- Vacuum and wet mop all hard surface floors twice weekly including under bed
- Eliminate “dust collectors” such as books, stuffed animals, throw pillows, etc.
- Keep relative humidity levels in the house below 50%
- Use air purifiers especially in bedrooms
Animals
- Keep pets out of bedrooms
- Do not allow pets on furniture or use throw sheet that can be washed weekly
- regularly groom pets by brushing daily to weekly and bathing weekly to monthly
- Use air purifiers and change air filters for the furnace monthly
- Wash hands after touching pet
- Vacuum twice weekly, not only flooring, but furniture as well
- Keep bed bedding as clean as possible
Mold
- Keep household humidity less than 50%
- Limit the number of indoor plats
- Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter
- Clean air vents for return air flow to heating and cooling unit
- Avoid putting damp cloth and vacuum twice weekly
- Use clean products that prevent mold growth especially in the bathroom and kitchen area
- Use Exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to remove moisture from the air
- Use a dehumidifier in damp areas of the house
ALLERGY & ASTHMA EDUCATON RESOURCES FOR PROVIDERS & FAMILIES
- Allergy & Asthma Network Mother of Asthmatic’s
1-800-878-4430
www.breatherville.org - American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
1-414-272-6071
www.aaaai.org - American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
1-847247-1200
www.acaai.org - American Lung Association
1-202-785-3355
www.lung.org - Association of Asthma Educators
1-888-988-7747
www.asthmaeducators.org - Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America
1-800-727-8462
www.aafa.org - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
1-800-232-4636
www.cdc.gov - National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute
1301-592-853
www.nhlbi.org