Applications now being accepted for Rhode Island's only asthma day camp

Asthma is one of the most common chronic pediatric diseases.

Nearly five million kids in the U-S are living with asthma.

That's about 6.5% of the pediatric population.

That's where the Community Asthma Programs at Hasbro Children's are making a difference.

One of its programs--Asthma Camp.

"We are the only asthma camp in Rhode Island," said Miosotis Alsina, co-director of the asthma camp.

Since 1998, they've hosted more than 600 kids at this specialty camp between the ages of nine and 13.

"We give campers an experience during the summer that they're not going to forget while teaching them about their asthma," said Dr. Barbara Jandasek, co-director of the asthma camp and a pediatric psychologist and Certified Asthma Educator at Hasbro.

"Education is one of the most important aspects that we know for managing asthma."

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Most of the campers over the years have come from the greater providence area--where asthma rates are higher.

"Urban areas if you think about asthma triggers, there are a lot of triggers that are common in urban areas--living conditions, pollution," said Jandasek.

That's why if your child is wheezing, coughing and/or are short of breath, a trip to the doctors office is warranted. That's because there are treatments to manage the disease and they do work.

"At camp and by doing all these activities they learn they're capable of doing anything while their asthma's well managed," said Jandasek.

"They can live a well managed life and they can be anything that they wish to be in the future as long as they're well controlled," added Alsina.

Asthma camp, including transportation to and from is free of charge.

They're taking applications now until May 9. Camp is July 14 to 17.

It is funded by donations and sponsors. One of them: Breeze Against the Wheeze, a fundraising race to benefit the camp on Saturday, April 12.