#AskAboutAsthma is an annual awareness campaign led by NHS England (London region) babies, children and young people’s asthma team. It aims to improve the care and management of children and young people with asthma.
As a supporter of the campaign, ARNS are helping to spread the word locally so children and young people, their families, and those involved in their care are better informed of four simple and effective measures to help control their asthma:
1. Get an asthma action plan in place
2. Understand how to use inhalers correctly
3. Schedule an asthma review (by an appropriately trained clinician) – every year and after every attack
4. Consider air pollution and its impact on lung health
This year the campaign takes place from 11 – 17 September so everyone can take the learning, resources and key information shared to be even more prepared for week 38 – the week where, nationally, there is a rise in asthma attacks following the return to school after the summer holidays.
We can all play a part by developing our knowledge and understanding of children and young people’s asthma by joining the #AskAboutAsthma 2023 conference and daily webinars, reading themed blogs, listening to topical podcasts and sharing what we learn on social media.
Here are some other suggestions on how to get involved:
• Speak to your comms team (if you have one!) about scheduling some social media content using the campaign assets and messaging found here.
• Set up a stand in a hospital or GP practice with asthma inhalers and leaflets to teach people about good asthma care
• Hold a bake sale to raise awareness of the campaign with proceeds donated to Asthma + Lung UK
• Submit an item for your internal staff newsletter or bulletin to share during the week – perhaps with blogs from local clinicians – the campaign comms toolkits also include short and long copy which you can copy and paste as needed
• Display the campaign posters in community settings like pharmacy windows, GP surgery reception areas, notice boards in emergency departments, asthma wards and outpatient departments.
• Link in with school leads including head teachers and welfare officers asking them to display the campaign poster, or share the campaign in their newsletters
• Share the campaign with your local councillors, particularly on the fourth ask of air pollution and its links to lung health – encourage them to consider asthma and other lung conditions when developing local strategies to improve air quality in their areas!
These are just a few ideas on how you can get involved with #AskAboutAsthma – keep us posted on your plans and let us know if you’d like to collaborate in any way. There are lots of resources and communications toolkits available to use here.