Thunderstorm Asthma Alert For MLHD

Acting Director of Public Health Unit, Alison Nikitas has issued a Thunderstorm Asthma Alert for the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) area from yesterday, November 10 to Wednesday, November 16.

Current high pollen counts and predicted thunderstorms can increase the risk of asthma.

If you know you have asthma, carry your asthma puffer with you at all times and try to stay indoors with the windows and doors closed during the storm period.

Be aware that thunderstorm asthma can also affect people who have never had asthma before.

If you wheeze or sneeze in spring:

• See your doctor for an Asthma Action Plan;
• Use inhaled asthma-preventer medication for all the weeks of spring and use a reliever (blue puffer) if breathing problems occur;
• Go to the hospital, or call an ambulance, immediately if you have difficulty breathing.

You can monitor thunderstorm activity in your region via the Bureau of Meteorology website www.bom.gov.au.

Register for an SMS alert when the pollen counts are high and thunderstorms are predicted, go to https://science.csu.edu.au/asthma or text the word Asthma to 0417 115 876.

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• Health & Wellbeing