Did you know around 1.1million children in the UK have asthma, equating to 1 in 11 children and, every ten seconds, someone is having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack?
As young people return to schools this month, our expert team is here to give vital advice to ensure those with asthma remain symptom free.
Dr Satish Rao, Deputy Medical Director and Respiratory consultant, said: “Every year, we see a spike in asthma attacks in children across the UK when they go back to school in September and during the winter months.
“It’s so important the condition is well managed to reduce the risk of a back-to-school asthma attack.”
Just as you are getting ready for the new school year with new uniforms, shoes and books, we encourage families with children with asthma to check their inhalers and spacer devices too.
To help, our team has put together the following advice:
Asthma reviews
If your child has not had an asthma review in the last 12 months, please contact your GP surgery to book an appointment.
Using the reliever (blue) inhaler more than once a week indicates poor asthma control and risk of an asthma attack. Please contact your GP surgery for a review.
Please make sure the prescribed asthma inhalers are in date and you have an appropriate, clean spacer device.
Take your preventer inhaler
Continue to take/give the preventer inhaler every day as prescribed, even if there are no asthma symptoms.
If you keep forgetting or have stopped having the preventer, it is even more important to start taking the preventer inhaler as soon as possible as recommended, even if there are no asthma symptoms.
Know your asthma plan
Make sure you/your child knows what to do when asthma symptoms worsen.
Make sure the school has an up-to-date asthma action plan.
Make sure you know what makes asthma worse.
Make sure there is a reliever (blue) inhaler in school
Don’t forget to order spare blue inhaler (if needed) from your GP.
Always remember to use with the spacer – you may need to order a spare spacer for school.