Parents of children with asthma are being warned that attacks are set to become more likely with the kids back at school.
In fact, according to new research, hospital admissions for asthma attacks are predicted to rise from September onwards.
Asthma UK analysed data from previous years and found 3,550 children were admitted to hospital in England in September 2013, a sharp 293% increase from the month before.
Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said: “This data is really worrying.
“On average almost three children are admitted to hospital with an asthma attack every hour and almost 15 per cent of the total children’s admissions for the whole year come just from this peak in September.
“Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition affecting children and asthma attacks are a real warning sign that a child’s life could be at risk.
“Tragically asthma attacks kill the equivalent of a classroom full of children every year in the UK, so it is vital that parents and carers of children with asthma do not become complacent about their child’s asthma.”
She continued: “By downloading and using a written asthma action plan from our website you can look after your child’s asthma throughout the year and spot the signs that show your child’s asthma is getting worse.
“There is nothing more frightening than watching your child struggling to breathe and no parent wants to see their child admitted to hospital because of a preventable asthma attack.”
The Asthma UK website have created a ‘Back To Plan’ checklist for parents of children with asthma.
They advise that you:
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Book an appointment with your child’s new teacher
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Talk through your child’s action plan (download one here if you don’t already have one)
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Explain how asthma affects your child, focusing on how severe their attacks are, how often they have them, and whether they have any asthma-related conditions (such as hay fever or allergies)
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Show the teacher your child’s reliever inhaler and spacer
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Ask where your child can keep a spare reliever inhaler and spacer
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Plan when and how your child can take any medicines at school
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Ask how the teacher can let you know if your child has any asthma symptoms at school
They add that you should make sure your child’s new teacher is aware that asthma is a serious condition.
They explain: “You might want to mention that three people die from asthma every day in the UK. Write down and give the teacher our website address.
“Try saying, ’if my child’s having symptoms, please never send them to get their inhaler. Take the inhaler to them.’”
The symptoms your teacher needs to watch out for include:
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Coughing
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Wheezing
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Gasping for air
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Feeling tightness in their chest
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Having trouble speaking in short sentences
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Saying their chest or tummy hurts
*These will usually be relieved through using an inhaler.
However your child’s teacher needs to call 999 if:
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The child’s reliever inhaler isn't helping
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Their symptoms are getting worse (cough, breathlessness, wheeze or tight chest)
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They’re too breathless to speak
Does your child suffer from asthma? How do you feel about this new advice?
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