Be Prepared For Asthma Season

The highest risk period for thunderstorm asthma events in NSW runs from October to December each year. Thunderstorm asthma events have occurred most commonly in the Riverina and other regional and rural areas but can occur anywhere when the conditions combine.

There are some simple steps people can take now to prepare. These include:

if you have ever been diagnosed with asthma or have hay fever, ensuring you have an up-to-date action plan in place, including how you should manage your symptoms if you experience a flare-up due to bushfire smoke or pollen
if your child has asthma, providing any updated asthma action plans to your child’s preschool, childcare centre or school checking that your and/or your child’s asthma reliever medication and spacer is up-to-date and stored in an easy spot for you or a responsible adult to get quickly
if you have hay fever or asthma, knowing the warning signs of asthma like wheezing, breathlessness, feeling tight in the chest or persistent cough and when to seek advice from your doctor or urgent emergency care during times of high pollen, bushfire smoke or thunderstorms, where possible remaining inside and keeping windows and doors closed.

For more information on asthma visit Sydney Children’s Hospital Network’s which includes a good asthma control checklist or Asthma Australia.