COPD presentation

[StudentNurseSteph, BSN, RN]

I need a 5-10 minute audience involved activity to go along with my COPD presentation in the next couple weeks.. Any ideas would be much appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

You could take in a box of straws and have the audience try to breath through the straw while pinching their nose closed for 1 minute. This will give them a really good idea of how hard these people need to work in order to take a simple breath. That should get their attention if you do that at the beginning of your presentation.

[mcknis]

Good idea ^^^^^

But, just remember that COPD is an obstructive problem (cant get the air out - reason for the barrel chest),and not a restrictive problem (like asthma - can't get the air in). The demo you talked about is indicative of a restrictive problem, not an obstructive problem.

May try to have the students blow up a balloon (first this shows them what a COPD pts lungs may resemble (such as emphysema), but also causes them to try to blow out against an obstruction (expanding balloon) as with COPD pts. Remember that COPD is a class of several breathing disorders, it is not all inclusiv of just one disorder. Also, ask all of the students performing this exercise if they have any kind of cardiac or pulmonary conditions...because if so...they cannot participate (unless you don't mind doing CPR on one of your fellow students).

[StudentNurseSteph, BSN, RN]

thats a good idea that not too many people use.. i like that balloon idea.. thanks soo much..