neal.mcnamara@heraldbulletin.com

Because we all do it so regularly, breathing is often taken for granted. But for people with respiratory ailments, the ability to breathe can be taken away in a heartbeat.

In an effort to help those suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Community Hospital Foundation has donated nebulizers to all schools in Madison County.

The nebulizers — devices which turn medication from a liquid into an inhaled mist — were distributed to 46 schools. Community Hospital respiratory specialists provided some training.

“We just wanted to make sure the children were taken care of,” said Gary Harris, respiratory care manager at Community Hospital in Anderson. “We’re helping keep kids in school.”

According to Brandy Hill, spokeswoman for Community Hospital, the nebulizers cost approximately $250, but were obtained from Community Home Health services for a “substantially reduced price.”

Harris said that a respiratory therapist in the pediatrics department at Community Hospital came up with the idea after a patient was brought in from a school. The school either didn’t have a nebulizer, or it wasn’t properly working, he said.

Harris said he went to the foundation and, within a week, had funds to buy the nebulizers. He said that, in schools, asthma is the most common respiratory ailment.

Before the nebulizers were given to schools, most students would carry their own to and from school. Now, students with asthma don’t have to do that. Harris said that without the help of the foundation, and Community Health Services — from which the units were purchased — the nebulizers wouldn’t have made it to schools.

Nancy Catto, health services coordinator for Anderson Community Schools, said that the nebulizers will be put to great use.

“Some schools didn’t have nebulizers, and the kids had to bring their own,” said Catto. “Some schools had very old ones. Asthma and diabetes are two of our major health concerns in the schools.”

Keith Trent, vice president of the foundation, said that often donors give money and designate it for a specific purpose. The money used to purchase the nebulizers was from one of those accounts.

“We thought this was very important,” said Trent. “When the nebulizer opportunity came along, we felt it was another opportunity to support the schools in (providing) health care.”

Earlier this year, the foundation, in partnership with the Madison County Community Foundation, bought defibrillators for all Madison County schools.