OnAir Winter 2016

IT’S ABOUT TIME TO TAKE
ASTHMA SERIOUSLY!
Did you know that 3 out of 4 people wouldn’t know what to
do if someone had a potentially life threatening severe asthma
attack? Would your friends, family, colleagues, fellow shoppers or
commuters know what to do if it were you or your child having an
asthma attack?
Asthma Foundation WA provides free community
and individual asthma education as well as a free call
1800 ASTHMA hotline to help West Australians
manage asthma and linked conditions.
One in ten West Australians have asthma and we often
hear from people that they don’t think others take their
asthma seriously enough, whether that is colleagues,
their child’s school or relatives.
It is important for people with newly diagnosed asthma
to have one on one asthma education to ensure it is
well controlled from the start, leading to greater
compliance with medication and asthma management.
It is especially important to discuss asthma with a
parent and child directly to ascertain how their asthma
is currently being managed, and any issues relating to
asthma medications and techniques.
FIRST AID TRAINING IN RURAL WA
The AFWA Health Services Education and Training Officers travel to rural Western Australia to deliver first
aid training. During these trips, free asthma education and awareness sessions are also delivered to schools,
community groups and health professionals.
Ben’s story
Ben was not taking his preventer as prescribed; often
missing his morning dose. He was experiencing
shortness of breath 3-4 times a week and felt like he
was unable to participate in sport activities.
He explained that he does not take his reliever prior to
activity at school because he thought that his spacer
was too large and embarrassing.
Kara from AFWA’s Health Services department explained
that regular preventer use is important and offered an
alternate option of using another style of spacer when
at school and Ben agreed to continue using the larger
spacer at home. Ben agreed that he would take his
puffer prior to sport with a smaller spacer if provided.
Ben’s mother was also encouraged to discuss Ben’s
asthma with Ben’s teacher and the School and to
provide them with an Asthma Action Plan.
When Kara followed up she was pleased to find that
Ben now has daily adherence, uses a spacer and carries
a reliever. Due to the transparent communication from
Ben’s mum, he is able to go on school camp and join the
local football club. The football club has even requested
a free Live Well With Asthma session with AFWA as
they have seen the difference that the education
has made.
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