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Public ignorant about asthma attacks: Asthma UK Cymru
Public ignorant about asthma attacks: Asthma UK Cymru
06 March 2006
An Asthma UK survey carried out by BMRB showed that although the majority of people in Great Britain are aware that an asthma attack can be fatal (93%), only half those questioned knew what to do if someone was having an asthma attack. Wales faired much better with 66% of people knowing what to do.
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 260,000 people with asthma in Wales and every day, people are dying unnecessarily. Every seven hours someone dies in the UK of an asthma attack yet 90% of these deaths are preventable.
Asthma UK Cymru 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.
Nia Jeffreys, Asthma UK Cymru’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.’
Gwilym Jones, aged 16 said: ‘When I have an asthma attack I feel really clammy and tightened up. A lot of the time I feel scared about the attack. The reason for me feeling scared is that about 17 months ago I had an attack which put me in intensive therapy unit. Me and mum refer to it as ‘the big one’. I have never had an attack quite like it before. I'm lucky because I don't remember much about it, but my mum remembers every second of it. Every time I have an attack I am scared now. Maybe it will end up like ‘the big one’ and next time I won't survive.’
Andrew Dearden, chairman of the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA Wales commented: ’Asthma should always be taken seriously. Asthma attack cards are one important way of ensuring people know what to do in an asthma attack. We would also encourage people with asthma to ask at their local surgery for an appointment in one of the practices' asthma clinics. From these clinics additional information can be given to patients on how to recognise if their asthma is getting worse. This could be in the form of a written personal asthma action plan for example. This is one way of helping people recognise deteriorating asthma and get advice about how to alter therapy and when to seek urgent medical attention. Anyone who feels their asthma is not well controlled or gets worse should seek medical advice.’
Nia Jeffreys added: ‘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.
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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 260,000 people with asthma in Wales and every day, people are dying unnecessarily. Every seven hours someone dies in the UK of an asthma attack yet 90% of these deaths are preventable.
Asthma UK Cymru 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.
Nia Jeffreys, Asthma UK Cymru’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.’
Gwilym Jones, aged 16 said: ‘When I have an asthma attack I feel really clammy and tightened up. A lot of the time I feel scared about the attack. The reason for me feeling scared is that about 17 months ago I had an attack which put me in intensive therapy unit. Me and mum refer to it as ‘the big one’. I have never had an attack quite like it before. I'm lucky because I don't remember much about it, but my mum remembers every second of it. Every time I have an attack I am scared now. Maybe it will end up like ‘the big one’ and next time I won't survive.’
Andrew Dearden, chairman of the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA Wales commented: ’Asthma should always be taken seriously. Asthma attack cards are one important way of ensuring people know what to do in an asthma attack. We would also encourage people with asthma to ask at their local surgery for an appointment in one of the practices' asthma clinics. From these clinics additional information can be given to patients on how to recognise if their asthma is getting worse. This could be in the form of a written personal asthma action plan for example. This is one way of helping people recognise deteriorating asthma and get advice about how to alter therapy and when to seek urgent medical attention. Anyone who feels their asthma is not well controlled or gets worse should seek medical advice.’
Nia Jeffreys added: ‘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.
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Notes to editors
1. As part of the initiative, Asthma UK launches its first ever television advertising campaign, beginning today and will be aired across the UK for one week.
2. Asthma UK Cymru is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK 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 Cymru is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK 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.
