In Victoria the grass pollen season usually runs from October to December. During this time there is often an increase in asthma and hay fever across the state.
What is thunderstorm asthma?
Thunderstorm asthma is triggered by a combination of higher grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.
Who is at risk?
Under these conditions, people are at higher risk of a sudden and serious asthma attack if:
- they have a history of asthma
- their asthma or hay fever is poorly treated.
Thunderstorm asthma can occur even in people who have never had asthma before. You should apply asthma first aid and get emergency help to someone who has any of these symptoms:
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- chest tightness.
Following an up-to-date asthma action plan or hay fever treatment plan, provided by a GP or specialist, can lesson symptoms of asthma or hay fever and reduce absences from childcare services.
How to prepare
Providers must make sure their service(s) are ready for the grass pollen season by:
- downloading the VicEmergency app and setting a ‘watch zone’ for their location. This means services will receive advice and warnings about potential thunderstorm asthma events during the grass pollen season. Alternatively, the service can monitor the thunderstorm asthma forecast daily.
- confirming with families that all children with asthma have up to date:
- Asthma Action Plans
- Medical Management
- Risk Minimisation Plans.
- confirming with families that children are taking their preventative medication and bringing their inhalers to childcare
- ensuring that all staff and volunteers understand procedures for managing asthma including learning about asthma emergency first aid steps for children and for everyone
- making sure that staff and volunteers check for shortness of breath or wheezing symptoms in children and tell parents if symptoms are found
- checking that all asthma medications kept onsite are current and asking families to urgently replace any expired medication
- reviewing the service’s medical conditions policy and making sure it includes thunderstorm asthma management
- sharing information with families about thunderstorm asthma and how the service is making preparations
- documenting preparations and response strategies in the service’s Emergency Management Plan (EMP).
Ventilation and outdoor activity guidelines
Services should take extra precautions with outdoor play on days of heightened thunderstorm asthma risk.
Services should:
- avoid outdoor activities during thunderstorms or strong wind gusts
- close doors and windows to limit pollen exposure
- set air conditioners to re-circulate indoor air
- consider the appropriate use and placement of air purifiers.
At all other times, services should continue to ventilate indoor spaces with fresh air as much as possible.
Template
Services are encouraged to download the template below to share with parents and carers:
Find out more
For more information visit:
- Better Health Channel's Thunderstorm asthma (available in English and other languages). Information, videos and links to other support.
- Asthma Australia's asthma first aid for kids, preschool asthma and thunderstorm asthma.
- VECRA's managing children's medical conditions Health, safety and wellbeing in early childhood services
- ACECQA First aid qualifications and training requirements.
Updated