2022 AIRWAY AWARENESS PROJECT

It's Time to Put an End to the Silent Epidemic of Pediatric Airway Disorders

There is a silent epidemic weaving its way throughout the children of the world. It is estimated that pediatric airway disorders impact 400-million children around the globe. Sleep issues, mouth breathing, an inability to focus or concentrate, lack of energy, and even depression are all symptoms that can be traced back to childhood airway disorders.

If caught and treated early enough, the pain and suffering a child experiences can be avoided. However, if left undiagnosed and untreated, a child suffering from an airway disorder will experience pain, exhaustion, mental issues, and even death. Unfortunately, many children are being misdiagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, or needing braces because so many pediatricians and pediatric dentists are missing the signs and symptoms of childhood airway disorders.

This is why the Children's Airway First Foundation is launching our 2022 Airway Awareness Project. We are on a mission to promote airway management awareness, educate parents and medical professionals on the signs and symptoms of pediatric airway disorders, and to put an end to the silent epidemic.

HELP GIVE A VOICE TO THE SILENT EPIDEMIC

Your donation allows the Children's Airway First Foundation to continue our mission of education and prevention of pediatric airway disorders.

"There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing."

~ James Nestor, BREATH

2022 AREAS OF FOCUS

Tackling the issue of children's airway health is a colossal undertaking with the health of more than 400-million children in jeopardy. We have identified three major avenues of focus that will guide our healthcare revolution and serve as the foundational core of our 2022 Airway Awareness Project.

These endeavors will help to secure a healthy future for hundreds of millions of children who, without your contributions and support, might not otherwise have that chance.

CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF HEALTHCARE

We must change the way we screen, evaluate, and treat children's airway and sleep disorders around the world:

We are seeking CDC and ADA mandates surrounding childhood airway disorders
We are seeking to add an airway exam to the APGAR scoring used in hospitals, ERs, and other medical facilities
We are seeking insurance changes to cover all children's airway treatments and preventative care

IMPROVE APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE

We must change the way we train and educate our healthcare professionals:

We are seeking updates in pediatric medical, dental, and orthodontic school curricula
Today they only receive an estimated 4.75 hours of training --We must ensure that every clinician can identify the craniofacial respiratory complex characteristics of children with airway disorders
We are seeking to redefine the traditional siloed-medical approach to a more interdisciplinary approach to children's healthcare

EMPOWER & EDUCATE PARENTS

We must provide parents, medical professionals, and educators with the right information:

We are launching a public health campaign to educate parents, medical professionals, and educators on the signs and symptoms of children's airway breathing disorders
We are developing a docuseries and an educational podcast
We are working with our partners to create tools to better help identify children with airway disorders

MOUTH BREATHING IS NOT OKAY!

While many parents think it's okay and that their child will grow out of it, mouth breathing is not okay and could be a sign of an airway disorder.

Mouth breathing can pose negative threats to a child's long-term health. These changes can have long-term effects on their health by:

Decreasing quality of sleep
Causing poorly functioning auto-immune system
Decreasing brain function and IQ
Impacting speech and swelling capabilities
Increasing risk for dental complications

SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT AIRWAY AWARENESS!

Help us spread the word about pediatric airway disorders! Share CAFF with your friends and family and follow us on social media.

BLOGS

Blogs and newsletters with the latest in childhood airway disorders and prevention.

VIDEOS

A collection of interviews of some of the best medical pediatric airway specialists

DOWNLOADS

Our library of checklists, guides, and research on childhood airway disorders and prevention

FIRST STEPS

Where parents can begin their journey by finding health providers, education & support