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Managing asthma while on the farm
17 July 2009
~ Farm Safety Week ~ 20-25 July 2009
Asthma is a condition of inflammation and spasm of the airways, which can be triggered by a range of factors including organic dusts such as grains and pollens.
While farmers are not necessarily at greater risk of asthma than the general population, they are more likely to be exposed to organic dusts in the course of their farm work.
That’s why Hunter New England Health is encouraging farmers during National Farm Safety Week to consider the possible affect of asthma on themselves and their families.
Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist Joanne McIlveen said farmers with a family history of asthma could also be at greater risk.
“Farm families are often long distances from medical help, so awareness and treatment of asthma is especially important,” Ms McIlveen said.
“Acute asthma is a life threatening condition, but asthma attacks can be prevented.”
Symptoms of asthma include:
• Coughing
• Tightness in the chest
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
“Anyone who works or lives on a farm should be aware of the first aid management for asthma. For farmers with a history of asthma, it's important to speak to your doctor about a personal asthma management plan,” Ms McIlveen said.
“Also, employees with asthma need to tell their employer so that an on-farm management plan can be put in place.”
Asthma attacks can be slow to develop – over a few days – or come on within a few short minutes. It’s important that people know what to do in an emergency.
Call 000 immediately if there is:
• Increasing shortness of breath or rapid breathing, with inability to speak more than 1-2 words per breath
• Severe chest tightness
• Feeling of distress or being frightened
• Sucking in of throat and ribs or blue colouration of the lips
While waiting for the ambulance:
• Sit the person upright and give reassurance
• Give four separate puffs of a reliever (eg: ventolin), preferably with a spacer. Take four breaths from the spacer after each puff
• Wait four minutes
• If little improvement, repeat steps until ambulance arrives
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: 02-6767713
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