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Media Release
Asthma ignorance is Deadly Serious
Asthma ignorance is Deadly Serious
06 March 2006
Asthma UK today (6 March) launches its Deadly Serious campaign, including television advertising highlighting that asthma is serious and that underestimating the condition could be a fatal mistake.
There are 150,000 people with asthma in Northern Ireland and everyday, people are dying unnecessarily. Every seven hours someone dies of an asthma attack in the UK yet 90% of these deaths are preventable.
Asthma UK Northern Ireland wants everyone with asthma, or who cares for someone with asthma, to have an asthma attack card, which contains basic information about what to do in an asthma attack, and could save lives.
Asthma is the most widespread long-term condition among children and with 35,000 children in Northern Ireland, there are on average three children in every classroom who have asthma. On average, each year in Northern Ireland there are over 2,445 hospital admissions for asthma and tragically 36 deaths.
Iain Foster, Asthma UK Northern Ireland’s national manager said: ‘People should not be complacent. Over 400,000 people with asthma in the UK have attacks that are so severe they are unable to ask for help and even people with mild asthma are at risk of having a fatal attack if their asthma isn’t under control. One in five households in the UK is affected by asthma so if you don’t have asthma yourself, you will know someone who does. We want people to contact Asthma UK for their own Asthma Attack Card which could help you save someone’s life.’
Dr Vinty McGovern, a local GP added: ‘Asthma should always be taken seriously. Asthma Attack Cards are important in ensuring people know what to do in an asthma attack. We would also encourage people with asthma to ask their doctor for a written personal asthma action plan. This helps people recognise deteriorating asthma and gives advice about how to alter therapy and when to seek urgent medical attention. Most severe asthma comes on gradually and there is plenty of time to alter therapy to prevent it worsening.’
Iain Foster commented: ‘If you have asthma, or if know someone with asthma, you should have an asthma attack card. We hope our Deadly Serious campaign will help put the card into many more people’s hands.’
By the end of today at least three people could have died from asthma. Don’t underestimate asthma. Call 020 7786 5000 now for an Asthma UK asthma attack card that could save someone’s life.
- Ends -
There are 150,000 people with asthma in Northern Ireland and everyday, people are dying unnecessarily. Every seven hours someone dies of an asthma attack in the UK yet 90% of these deaths are preventable.
Asthma UK Northern Ireland wants everyone with asthma, or who cares for someone with asthma, to have an asthma attack card, which contains basic information about what to do in an asthma attack, and could save lives.
Asthma is the most widespread long-term condition among children and with 35,000 children in Northern Ireland, there are on average three children in every classroom who have asthma. On average, each year in Northern Ireland there are over 2,445 hospital admissions for asthma and tragically 36 deaths.
Iain Foster, Asthma UK Northern Ireland’s national manager said: ‘People should not be complacent. Over 400,000 people with asthma in the UK have attacks that are so severe they are unable to ask for help and even people with mild asthma are at risk of having a fatal attack if their asthma isn’t under control. One in five households in the UK is affected by asthma so if you don’t have asthma yourself, you will know someone who does. We want people to contact Asthma UK for their own Asthma Attack Card which could help you save someone’s life.’
Dr Vinty McGovern, a local GP added: ‘Asthma should always be taken seriously. Asthma Attack Cards are important in ensuring people know what to do in an asthma attack. We would also encourage people with asthma to ask their doctor for a written personal asthma action plan. This helps people recognise deteriorating asthma and gives advice about how to alter therapy and when to seek urgent medical attention. Most severe asthma comes on gradually and there is plenty of time to alter therapy to prevent it worsening.’
Iain Foster commented: ‘If you have asthma, or if know someone with asthma, you should have an asthma attack card. We hope our Deadly Serious campaign will help put the card into many more people’s hands.’
By the end of today at least three people could have died from asthma. Don’t underestimate asthma. Call 020 7786 5000 now for an Asthma UK asthma attack card that could save someone’s life.
- Ends -
Notes to editors
1. Asthma UK launches its first ever television advertising campaign, beginning today and will be aired across the UK for one week.
2. Asthma UK Northern Ireland is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 150,000 people in the Northern Ireland whose lives are affected by asthma.
3. For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at asthma.org.uk/adviceline.
4. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk.
2. Asthma UK Northern Ireland is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 150,000 people in the Northern Ireland whose lives are affected by asthma.
3. For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at asthma.org.uk/adviceline.
4. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk.
