The Red Alert Program for life-threatening asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To design a program to prevent death in children with life-threatening asthma.


METHODS
Using published guidelines to identify patients with life-threatening asthma, we developed a comprehensive medical network involving emergency medical services, school workers, extended family members, local physicians, emergency rooms, and a referral center. The network was designed to provide early, aggressive medical attention and rapid access to care for patients enrolled in the program.


RESULTS
In 8 years of operation, 75 patients have been enrolled. There have been 270 hospitalizations, with life-threatening asthma occurring in 25 admissions in 15 patients. Three patients have died; of these, two did not use the services provided by the program.


CONCLUSIONS
The Red Alert Program has been successful in assuring more aggressive and timely intervention for asthma attacks and seems to have prevented deaths. Patients and their families express a high degree of satisfaction with the services. The Red Alert Program may serve as a model for other programs for children with life-threatening asthma.
Sherman
J M
JM
Pediatric Pulmonary Division, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0296, USA.
Capen
C L
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index