Before discharge, which action by the parents is most important to reduce allergens in Simon's environment?

Before discharge, which action by the parents is most important to reduce allergens in Simon's environment?

• A. Remove Simon's dog from the home.
• B. Stop smoking cigarettes in the car.
• C. Have a high-energy particulate air (HEPA) filter installed.
• D. Wet dust all floors and surfaces, particularly in Simon's bedroom.

Answer: (B)

Environmental triggers have a big impact on a child with allergic or asthma symptoms, and reducing exposure to these triggers is a key part of discharge planning. Stopping smoking in the car is the most powerful action because secondhand tobacco smoke in a closed space delivers a high concentration of irritants directly to the child’s airways, increasing inflammation, airway reactivity, and the likelihood of coughing, wheezing, or an asthma flare. Once smoking is stopped in the car, the child’s exposure to this major irritant drops dramatically, offering immediate and broad relief. Other measures can help, like removing a pet to cut dander, using a HEPA filter to trap particulates, or wet-dusting to reduce dust. Each helps, but none reduce the overall irritant load as significantly as eliminating tobacco smoke exposure in the car, which tends to be a frequent, concentrated source of triggers for a child with respiratory sensitivities.

Environmental triggers have a big impact on a child with allergic or asthma symptoms, and reducing exposure to these triggers is a key part of discharge planning. Stopping smoking in the car is the most powerful action because secondhand tobacco smoke in a closed space delivers a high concentration of irritants directly to the child’s airways, increasing inflammation, airway reactivity, and the likelihood of coughing, wheezing, or an asthma flare. Once smoking is stopped in the car, the child’s exposure to this major irritant drops dramatically, offering immediate and broad relief.

Other measures can help, like removing a pet to cut dander, using a HEPA filter to trap particulates, or wet-dusting to reduce dust. Each helps, but none reduce the overall irritant load as significantly as eliminating tobacco smoke exposure in the car, which tends to be a frequent, concentrated source of triggers for a child with respiratory sensitivities.