School to breathe easier

DEEPBREATH: Gemmel Ingpen, Phillip Comport, Gary Irving from the Asthma Foundation and

MT EVELYN Primary is an asthmafriendly school.
In recent months the school has undertaken various activities including implementing asthma management policies, actions plans, providing staff education and ensuring emergency access to asthma and first aid kits within the school.
As recognition of its involvement in the program, which was established through the Asthma Foundation of Victoria in 2001, the school will receive an accreditation certificate, valid for three years.
Since its adoption, 53 per cent of Victorian schools have completed the program and 80 per cent of all schools in the State have registered to take part.
Gemmel Ingpen, owner of Mount Evelyn SUPA IGA, and services manager of the Asthma Foundation, Gary Irving, presented the school with their certificate last Monday.
The IGA Community Chest Program sponsors the asthma project, which ensures that schools in Victoria incur no charge to become or stay asthma friendly. Mt Evelyn Primary School principal, Phil Comport said the school’s participation in the program was raising awareness for asthma in the local community.
As part of the program all school staff are educated to ensure they know what to do if a student has an asthma attack.