1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,840 Speaker 1: Well, you may have noticed there's been quite a bit 2 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: of smoke around and a health alert has been issued 3 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: for Greater Darwin and the Top End region due to 4 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: smoky conditions. Multiple planted burns are underway, creating conditions that 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: could pose a risk to people with respiratory conditions. Now 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: NT Health is advising us to avoid physical activity outdoors, 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: set those air conditioners to recirculate, and seek medical treatment 8 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: for asthma if that is required. Joining us on the 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: line to tell us a little bit more about some 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: of the ways that we can manage it is the 11 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: Asthma Foundation INT CEO lean Elliott Holmes. 12 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: Goodboarding, Leanne, Good morning Katie. 13 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: Leanne, thanks so much for your time. And we know 14 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,880 Speaker 1: that that air quality has been pretty poor at different 15 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: times over the last few weeks, but certainly yesterday going 16 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: by the air radar app What do people need to 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: do if they have got respiratory conditions? 18 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Josie, and is always our busiest time where 19 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 2: we see an increase in referrals. But people with asthma 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: and other respiratory conditions need to be aware of the 21 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: air quality, try and avoid outdoor activity as much as 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: possible if they need to go out pop on a 23 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 2: P two mask, making sure that they're using their medication correctly, 24 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 2: making sure they are covering carrying their relief and medication 25 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 2: and space with them at all times, and as you said, 26 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 2: putting your air conditioning on that air recycle mode, making 27 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: sure they're not out doing a heap of physical activity 28 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: at this time as well, but also staying up to 29 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: date by checking bush bisnt where these control burns are going, 30 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: so you can sort of plan ahead and most importantly 31 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: knowing what to do in the case of an asthma 32 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 2: or a respiratory emergency. Know your asthma first date, which 33 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,279 Speaker 2: is your full BI four by four. Anything any doubt 34 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 2: and you are concerned about your symptoms, call Triple zero 35 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: or it might be time for a review by your doctor, 36 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: or come and see us at the Asthma Foundation. 37 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: Aleenne tell us. Have you had a bit of an 38 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: increase in the demand for your services as the dry seasons, 39 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: you know, gotten underway. 40 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: Yes, we always do, and it's really surprising. It's often 41 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 2: those people that have had asthma all their lives and 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: they think they have it under control, and as soon 43 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,839 Speaker 2: as that smoke starts, their asthma flares up. And that's 44 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: the thing with asthma. It is very much a manageable condition, 45 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: but there's always going to be certain triggers that will 46 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 2: flare that asthma up. And it's just been aware of 47 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 2: what to do, being able to identify your symptoms very 48 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: quickly and manage them quickly so you don't end up 49 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 2: in hospital. 50 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's been like, it's been an interesting few 51 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: weeks because even on some of those days where maybe 52 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: the smoke subsided a little, there's been quite a quite 53 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: a number of of different flus and viruses going around 54 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: as well that can sometimes have a bit of an 55 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: impact exactly right. 56 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: So it's really important that people are having their fluvacs 57 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: this year. But it's also that change in the temperature, 58 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 2: so those cool mornings is enough to trigger. All those 59 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: cool evenings is enough to trigger as well. And you know, 60 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: my thing too with parents with children with asthma is 61 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: making sure that the school has an indate blue puffer 62 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 2: and spacer and that they have an up to date 63 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: asthma Action Plan signed by their GP, so that if 64 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: anything happens during school hours, the school starts know what. 65 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: To do lee and do most of those schools sort 66 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: of have a puffer and the space that they're ready 67 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: because you know, just in case. 68 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, we're very lucky in the Northern Territory. We 69 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 2: have a great relationship with all our schools in the 70 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: Northern Territory and all of our schools, or a majority 71 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: of our school have us come in and train once 72 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: a year. And also a lot of our schools have 73 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: taken on our new training which is Asthma Aware training. 74 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: So a lot of schools in the territory now can 75 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: say that they are asthma aware because all their staff 76 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 2: have done training through the Asthma Foundation in Basic Asthma 77 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: first Day Lee. 78 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: And there might be some people listening this morning who 79 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: either have asthma themselves but or maybe haven't felt like 80 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: they have over a number of years, but you know, 81 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: the smoke's flaring things up, or maybe they've got a 82 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: child that does have asthma and they're sort of thinking 83 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: to themselves, you know, at what point do you need 84 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: to seek that medical intervention if they do start to 85 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: have an attack. 86 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: Well, it's really important that you do have your asthma 87 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: reviews at least twelve monthly or six monthly. We would 88 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: prefer and it's surprising how many people out there with 89 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: asthma because it runs in families and it's one in 90 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: nine territories have asthma. So you get a little bit 91 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 2: blase with it, and then the dry sea and hits 92 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 2: and you start to notice your symptoms clearing up. So 93 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 2: it's really important that you do understand that your asthma 94 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: can clear up at any stage in your life. You 95 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: can develop asthma at any stage in your life. We 96 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: see a lot of older women being diagnosed with asthma 97 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 2: later in life, and so it's really you know and 98 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: that strong family gene as well with asthma. So it's 99 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 2: really important that the first sign of symptoms, you know, 100 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 2: come and see us, go and see your GP. And 101 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: it's really important if old enough so from probably some 102 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,559 Speaker 2: seven on that you should have spirometry at least once 103 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: a year. 104 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: Leanne to anybody out there listening who maybe hasn't been 105 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: to see the Asthma Foundation at any point, or that 106 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: they maybe do need to come and sort of get 107 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: a check up or go and get a check up. 108 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: What's the advice for them? 109 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: They can just simply ring our offers on one eight 110 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 2: hundred asthma or eight nine eight one six zero double 111 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 2: six and make an appointment so you can self refer 112 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 2: to us. You don't need your doctors to refer to it. 113 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: You can self refer and then what we'll do is 114 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 2: we can do a sporiometry test on and then we 115 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 2: send those results and a letter back to your GP. 116 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 2: So you know, we do have quite a weight at 117 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: the moment. I think we're about we're booked out about 118 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 2: three weeks ahead. 119 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: Wow. 120 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: You know, if you do have concerns, we can always 121 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: do a phone consult while you wait for that appointment, 122 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 2: But feel free to give our office a ring at 123 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 2: any time and. 124 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: Leanne have you got that weight because of the conditions 125 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: that we've had around at the moment or is it 126 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: because you guys are just so busy. 127 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 2: I think it's a bit of both. We also are 128 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 2: the main provider for sperometry now in the Northern Territory, 129 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 2: particular up in Darwin, Palmerston and Rule particularly since COVID 130 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:53,119 Speaker 2: because the strict infection control measures around sporometry and that now, 131 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 2: so we do have a huge referral base from our GPS, 132 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: and so I think it's a bit of both. We 133 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: are seeing because of the dry season, but also we're 134 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: really busy. 135 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it sounds like you are, and I can understand it, 136 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: you know, even myself when you're sort of trying to 137 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: manage manage e asthma throughout the smoky conditions. And good 138 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: on you guys for the wonderful work that you do 139 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: Asthma Foundation in t CEO Lean Elliott Holmes always good 140 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: to catch up with you. 141 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.