Summer in Australia can be particularly problematic for people with asthma.

The National Asthma Council Australia is urging people with asthma in bush fire zones - or those planning summer holidays in the country - to ensure they have considered their asthma as part of their total summer survival plan.

"People with asthma are at particular risk from bush fire smoke, especially the very young and older people," warned National Asthma Council Australia Director, Associate Professor Peter Wark.

"The best protection, where possible, is avoiding exposure to high levels of smoke and ensuring your asthma is well controlled from day-to-day.  This means seeing your doctor to make sure you have an appropriate written asthma action plan to help you manage your asthma over summer as well as making sure you regularly take your preventer puffer," Assoc Prof Wark advised.

"If you live in a high risk fire zone, you should also ask for a prescription for a second emergency inhaler, which you should have ready to take with you if you evacuate.  Keep your back up medication with your most precious papers or photographs to ensure it goes with you if you decide to leave."

The National Asthma Council Australia also stressed the need to follow the manufacturer's storage recommendations for medications during the hotter summer months.

"Keeping a back up inhaler in your glove box may seem like a good idea, but the extreme heat may render your medication ineffective, or worse still, some medication canisters could explode under the intense heat conditions that will occur in cars this summer," Assoc Prof Wark warned.

According to tests by the Royal Automobile Club Queensland cabin temperatures in cars can rise to well over 50 degrees - significantly higher than the under 25 - 30 degrees storage recommendation for some asthma inhalers.

People who live in built up areas also need to plan for days of smoke haze as winds can move bush fire smoke and harmful airborne particles over great distances. 

"In the wake of Victoria's Black Saturday, Melbourne was smothered by smoke for days on end," Assoc Prof Wark said.  "So preparing for this summer is just as critical for city dwellers as it is for those likely to be at the front line."

Bushfire smoke contains particles of different sizes, water vapour and gases, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can trigger asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing or chest tightness

Larger sized air-borne particles, containing burning debris, contribute to the visible haze when a fire is burning.  They are generally too large to be breathed into the lungs, but they can cause irritation to the lungs, throat and nose. 

Finer particles and gases, however, are small enough to be breathed into the lungs.

"This is why we are cautioning people with asthma across Australia to be vigilant about their health as the 2009/10 bushfire season unfolds and Australia heats up," Assoc Prof Wark explained.

Summer Asthma Management Tips

• Remember to take your regular preventer medication to keep your asthma controlled and always ensure you have plenty of medication on hand, particularly reliever medication.
• If you live in a fire danger area, or are likely to be visiting one, discuss the dangers with your local GP and update your personal asthma action plan accordingly.
• Volunteer fire-fighters with asthma, who are likely to have prolonged, intensive exposure to fire, heat and smoke, should have appropriate personal asthma action plans updated with their GP.
• Ensure your asthma medications are safely stored in line with the manufacturer's patient information instructions and not exposed to high heat.
• On days of total fire ban or high fire danger days, listen to your local radio station for localised fire danger updates and reports.
• If you plan to evacuate, always carry your inhaler with you - keep a back up inhaler with your evacuation kit, so it's ready to go.
• When smoke is in the air, but a fire is not directly threatening you, stay indoors, and, if possible use a filtered air conditioner to circulate air.

Anyone seeking asthma advice can visit the National Asthma Council Australia’s website: www.nationalasthma.org.au.

For further information or to arrange an interview with a National Asthma Council Australia spokesperson, please contact:

Kelly Ward:

Ward Communications Pty Ltd;
Tel. 03 9744 1855
Mob. 0407 860 834
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