Life Size Asthma Video Game

Aim: To facilitate the reaching of goals through avoidance of triggers, following medication regime, learning importance of warming up, and awareness of symptoms.

Target group: intermediate and advanced, active

Size: Divide, according to age, into two groups—intermediate and advanced. Works well with any size group.

Supplies

• Five to seven water guns
• Targets (in the shape of lungs) to put on the players' chests (one per child)
• Seven different symptom cards (cough, wheeze, chest tightness, shortness of breath, twitch lungs, decrease in peak flow, scratchy throat, etc.), have about seven copies of each symptom
• Reliever cards (about 20) and exercise cards (about 10) for the designated stations
• A blanket for the bed area
• 10 large shields (size of a large margarine lid)
• 10 small shields (size of a cottage cheese lid)
• Four signs stating the four stations (preventer, reliever, exercise, Dr. Breathe-A-Lot/bed)
• Signs stating the triggers (about seven) one for each trigger station (examples of trigger stations include: exercise, cats, dust, grass, emotions, perfume, horse etc)
• Dr Approved buttons or stickers: seven in each colour of red, orange, yellow and green

Helpers: Need at least two helpers. One helper will run the Dr. Breathe-A-Lot/bed station. The other helper will run the other three stations (preventers, relievers, warm-ups) and start the players, one at a time.

Summary

This is a great outdoors game. Using an area that has trails and trees adds to the game by providing natural obstacles and may set out a good course. However, the game can also be played indoors. The instructor and helpers need to map out the course similar to an obstacle course. Identify places where each trigger group can be located and mark them. Locate a central area to position the four stations and clearly identify this with the signs. Mark the start and finish line. Place the shields, reliever cards, exercise cards and Dr. Breathe-A-Lot questions at the centre station. Place the trigger signs at the identified trigger stations, and provide these stations with symptoms cards to distribute to the participants.

1. Begin by dividing the group in two, half of the group will be the ‘players’ and the other half will be the ‘triggers’.

2. The trigger group should then be divided according to the trigger stations. The triggers then man the trigger stations with water guns and symptom cards.

3. The helpers should be located at the central area. One is designated Dr. Breathe-A-Lot and the other operates the reliever, preventer and exercise stations. The blanket is given to the Dr. for his "patients." The appropriate cards should be provided for the helpers.

4. The participants should be lined up, and started from the start line, one at a time. Prior to going through the course, the players may prepare themselves by going to the preventer station and receiving a small shield (preventer medication) which they can use to protect their lungs (target) from the triggers' water guns.

5. The player may also chose to get a warm-up card prior to the start of the game, which will allow them to pass by the exercise trigger without being hit by the water gun. In order to pass by the exercise trigger, the player has to present his warm-up card, for free passage. Steps 4 and 5 should not be suggested to the players, they should think of this themselves, although the instructor may need to hint to the younger children what they should do.

6. As the children proceed through the course they try to protect their lung targets with their shields and by avoiding the triggers. The player should ideally be able to go through the entire course without getting hit by the water guns, as they are protected by their shields, just as in real life, if they take their preventers faithfully, warm-up before exercise, and avoid triggers, they are less likely to encounter problems.

7. If a player gets hit on their lungs (target) by a trigger's water gun, the trigger gives the player a symptom card and the player has to go to the station corresponding to what they should have done before or what they may need to do now that they have come in contact with the trigger (either reliever or warm-up station). For example, if they get hit by a cat, they will get a wheezing card from the cat. They then go to the reliever station and exchange their wheezing/symptom card for a reliever card. Then they have to begin again at the start of the course. If the trigger misses the players lungs (target), the player can continue on through the game.

8. Once the player receives two reliever cards, the player has to go to the Dr. Breathe-A-Lot/bed station and rest. The good Dr. asks the child five true/false questions. The only way they can get out of this station and continue the game, is to correctly answer the five questions from Dr. Breathe-A-Lot.

9. If the player does not answer all five questions correctly, they must return to the bed where Dr. Breathe-A-Lot prescribes a 30-second rest, or if there is a line-up to see Dr. Breathe-A-Lot they must go to the end of the line and wait their turn to try again. After answering all five questions correctly the player gets a green, "Dr. Approved" button or sticker for their shirt. If they have to come to Dr. Breathe-A-Lot's station again and successfully answer all five questions correctly they receive a yellow "Dr. Approved" button/sticker, an orange button/sticker on the third visit, the fourth and following visits, the player receives a red "Dr. Approved" button/sticker. The colours of the buttons represent the action zones they are in.

10. After the player sees the doctor and answers all five questions correctly, they must get a large preventer shield as the small shield has not been effective for them. They then must return to the start of the game.

11. Points will be awarded to the players at the end of the game that correspond to the amount of buttons, shields and relievers the player has at the end of the game. Points will be awarded as follows:

• 50 points A small shield
• 45 points A small shield + 1 reliever card
• 40 points A large shield + a green button
• 35 points A large shield + a green button + 1 reliever card
• 30 points A large shield + a green button + a yellow button
• 25 points A large shield + a green button + a yellow button + a reliever card
• 20 points A large shield + a green button + a yellow button + an orange button
• 15 points A large shield + a green button + a yellow button + an orange button + 1 reliever card
• 10 points A large shield + a green button + a yellow button + an orange button + red button
• 5 points A large shied + a green button + a yellow button + an orange button + a red button + 1 reliever card
• 0 points If more than 1 red button

Variations

• Instead of water guns, use a ball, and the players can be hit anywhere on their body.
• If played indoors or in an open area, number the triggers so the players know the direction to follow.
• When playing indoors, use mats, jungle gyms, balance beams, pylons etc.
• Use a stick instead of cards, or cards instead of buttons, etc.
• Make your own doctor questions or change the format of the question.

Use your own creativity.

Dr. Breathe-A-Lot Questions

• Doctors have a cure for asthma (F)
• Asthma is contagious (F)
• Laughing may cause asthma attacks (T)
• Most people’s asthma changes with the seasons (T)
• Because you have asthma you will always have breathing problems (F)
• Everyone should drink water while exercising, but it is even more important for people with asthma to drink plenty of water during exercise because it helps keep their lungs functioning properly (T)
• Inflammation is the same as swelling (T)
• Taking your preventer medication 10 - 15 minutes before exercising is recommended by doctors (F)
• It is important to cool down after exercise because you do not want to catch a cold (F)
• Warming up before exercise is only for sissies (F)
• To help control your asthma it is best to go near your triggers to let your lungs get used to the triggers. (F)
• If you are allergic to cats you will also be allergic to dogs (F)
• People with asthma are weaker than those who do not have asthma (F)
• Many people with eczema also have asthma (T)
• Shakes, tremors, headaches and a fast heart beat are common side effects from your preventer medication (F)
• Wheezing and sneezing are side effects of ventolin (F)
• A lot of mucus in your lungs is good (F)
• You get medication from a quick spray out of a diskhaler (F)
• Rinsing your mouth out before you take your preventer helps to stop sore throats (F)
• Spacers make it easier to inhale your medication (T)
• People who say that asthma is all in your head should learn more about asthma (T)
• You have asthma just so you can get more attention (F)
• Relievers help control the swelling in your lungs (F)
• If you are having an asthma attack or can tell you are going to you should take your preventer (F)
• You should hold your breath for at least one minute after breathing in your medication (F)