High temperatures and wildfire smoke are both increasingly familiar during summertime in the Pacific Northwest and nationwide. To wit, more parents are checking heat indexes, allergens and air-quality apps on their smartphones. In Washington alone, nearly 120,000 children live with asthma, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Nationwide, that number tops 4.6 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the summer, some kids have asthma flare-ups, with symptoms that can range from being mild to severe.
In this video, Shatoya Banks describes what it’s like to take care of Isaiah, her 8-year-old son, who has asthma. Even though he must be more careful than other kids, it doesn’t stop him from doing what he loves.
