Knowing aid for asthma attacks ‘is vital’

ALMOST nine out of 10 people would feel uncomfortable about helping a child who is having an asthma attack, a survey reveals.

The Asthma Society of Ireland said the survey underlined the vital need for more people to know how to deal with an asthma attack.

The survey of more than 2,200 people in Britain to mark World Asthma Day today found that 88% would not feel completely confident about dealing with a child suffering an asthma attack.

Chief executive of the Irish Asthma Society Dr Jean Holohan said they had distributed information on asthma to schools and sporting organisations.

“Knowing how to deal with an asthma attack is vitally important for every person with asthma, every parent of a child with asthma, teachers, sports coaches and the general public.”

Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma worldwide and one person will die every week as a result of the condition.

Dr Holohan said they encouraged everyone with asthma to carry an Asthma Attack Card that were available free of charge from the Asthma Society and more information was available on their website www.asthmasociety.ie.

If somebody is suspected of having an attack, they should be encouraged to take their reliever inhaler immediately. If there is no immediate improvement, one puff of the inhaler should be taken every minute for five minutes or until symptoms improve.

But if symptoms do not improve in this time – or there is doubt about whether the procedure is working – people should call a doctor or 999.

The inhaler should continue to be used until help arrives.

Around 60% of people with asthma in Ireland do not have their symptoms controlled and there are about 5,000 asthma related hospital admissions every year.

The goal of the Asthma Society of Ireland is to reduce hospital admissions by 50% over the next five years.

Dr Holohan said that most patients can achieve good control of their condition with proper guideline-based treatment.

“Controlled asthma means no, or very minimal, symptoms and very infrequent asthma attacks,” she pointed out.

This month the Asthma Society is asking the public to support their fund-raising Cupcakes for Asthma campaign.

People are being encouraged to bake, buy or sell cupcakes to raise funds. They can also log onto the society’s Facebook page and donate a virtual cupcake to their friends.

Dyson are donating €1 for every 10 virtual cupcakes donated.