Campaigners attack 'shocking' poll revealing ignorance about asthma

HEALTH campaigners have described as "shocking" a poll which revealed almost nine out of 10 people would not feel comfortable helping a child who was suffering an asthma attack.

Some 88 per cent would not feel completely confident in knowing what to do, according to the survey of more than 2,200 people to mark World Asthma Day.

The findings come just weeks after an inquest into the death of and 11-year-old boy ruled that neglect at Offerton High School in Stockport "significantly contributed" to his death.

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Five members of staff were suspended after victim Sam Linton was left in a corridor struggling to breathe following an asthma attack.

The inquest in March heard that no member of staff called 999 and he later died.

Asthma causes deaths amounting to the equivalent of a large classroom full of children every year, and 1.1 million under-15s suffer from the condition in the UK. Adults can also suffer fatal attacks.

A survey among 1,600 teachers across England in February 2009 also found that three-quarters did not feel confident about knowing what to do if a pupil began to fall ill.

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The chief executive of Asthma UK Neil Churchill which released the polls, said: "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.

"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."

Asthmatics suffering an attack can often find that their reliever inhaler (usually a blue-coloured one) does not help symptoms.

Breathlessness can get worse and be accompanied by coughing, wheezing and a tight chest. Some people become too breathless to speak, eat or sleep.

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Asthma UK is urging people to request an Asthma Attack Card from the charity which includes life-saving information.

If somebody is suspected of having an attack, they should be encouraged to take their reliever inhaler immediately.

If there is no immediate improvement, one puff of the inhaler should be taken every minute for five minutes or until symptoms improve.

But if symptoms do not improve in this time – or there is doubt about whether the procedure is working – people should call a doctor or 999.

One puff of inhaler should then be taken every minute until help arrives.

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