Public ignorance in Scotland putting children with asthma at risk
04 May 2010

87% of adults in Scotland would not be completely confident about what to do if a child with asthma in their care had an asthma attack, according to shocking new data* released by Asthma UK Scotland on World Asthma Day (4 May).
 
The lack of public awareness about asthma was highlighted by the recent inquest into the death of 11 year old Samuel Linton, from Stockport, who was left in a corridor at school for several hours after suffering an asthma attack. The inquest found that school staff lacked vital training on how to recognise an asthma attack and what to do in an emergency situation.

Asthma is believed by many to be a mild and harmless condition, yet a child is admitted to hospital as a result of the condition every 19 minutes in the UK and the equivalent of a classroom of children die from asthma every year.

Shona Haslam, Asthma UK Scotland’s National Director says: ‘The complacency that exists about asthma in the UK is shocking and dangerous and cannot continue. Every member of the public needs to know the signs of worsening asthma and what steps to take if someone suffers an asthma attack. Not acting quickly enough can result in needless deaths that shatter lives. The NHS also needs to take a zero tolerance approach to asthma deaths - parents who have lost children to asthma have told us they feel that a more proactive approach from health professionals might have made a crucial difference.’

Asthma UK Scotland’s free ‘Alert to Asthma’ initiative aims to reduce emergency hospital admissions, prevent unnecessary deaths and improve the life chances of children with asthma through improved self management.

‘This tragic event reinforces the urgent need for mandatory asthma training as part of teacher training, including ongoing assessment and we will be pursuing this vital requirement with Governments across the UK.’

Haslam continues: ‘There are 72,000 children and young people with asthma in Scotland and we are looking for their support in making sure their schools take advantage of our free training so that teachers know about, for example, inhaler techniques and how to identify, and deal with, an asthma attack.

‘After our trained asthma nurse has delivered the training to the teachers, we will follow this up with help and support for pupils so they can set up an Asthma Committee comprising teachers and pupils both with and without asthma, implement a schools policy and establish a ‘buddying’ system within the school.

‘This will allow the pupils to be empowered to control their asthma better, avoid traumatic emergency admissions and time off school and participate freely in leisure activities.’

Schools wishing more information on the Alert to Asthma scheme should phone 0131 226 2544 or email scotland@asthma.org.uk

The majority of life threatening asthma attacks could be avoided through better routine asthma management and the use of tools such as personal asthma action plans. Asthma UK’s advice for everyone with asthma is to have an action plan as those with a plan are four times less likely to suffer a serious asthma attack requiring hospital treatment. Asthma action plans play a key part in helping people to stay in control of their asthma. Completed with you by your doctor or nurse, it contains details about your asthma medicines, how to tell when your symptoms are getting worse and what to do, including in the case of an asthma attack. Action plans are available from your surgery or from Asthma UK.

*From a representative sample of 2,221 people across the UK in a survey by YouGov Plc in April 2010

• For further information, contact Asthma UK Scotland’s Public Affairs and Communications Manager Gordon Brown on 0131 226 2544 or 07816 906 145. Email gbrown@asthma.org.uk
• Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.4 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. Asthma UK Scotland is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 368,000 people in Scotland whose lives are affected by asthma.
• For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk.
• 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 0800 121 62 44.