The Asthma Foundation of Tasmania (AFT) is advising all people with asthma or other
respiratory illnesses in smoke affected areas around the state to ensure they take the
necessary precautions to protect themselves against elevated levels of high intensity smoke.

If people can smell smoke, it is a risk to their health and they need to ensure they take the
necessary precautions to protect themselves against it.

Those without their blue/grey reliever medication are advised supplies are available at their
local pharmacy. However, should they experience an uncontrollable asthma attack they are
asked to simply dial 000.

Exposure to wood smoke can trigger asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest
tightness or shortness of breath.

Children, the elderly and people with breathing problems, including asthma, are the first to feel
the effects of smoke and particle pollution, which means they need to take extra care.

Asthma is a serious condition and if not managed properly, particularly in the current
circumstances, can be life threatening.

Where possible, asthma sufferers should:

o Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed
o Minimise their physical outdoor activity
o If using an air conditioner or heat pump at home or in the car, set it to ‘recycle’
o Try to minimise exposure to other irritants such as cigarette smoke and dust
o Make sure their blue/grey reliever medication is at hand.

Tasmanians with asthma can limit their exposure to smoke in the air by accessing AFT’s free
online smoke alert service, which issues warnings on Facebook and Twitter when smoke levels
are high in any given area across the State.

Visit the website at www.asthmatas.org.au to view an interactive map with the most up-todate
smoke levels in each region, follow the Twitter handle @smoke_alert_tas, or like the
Smoke Alert Tasmania page on Facebook to receive automated smoke alerts.

Remember, if you can smell smoke it is a risk to your health.

If you are in an emergency situation or if you find breathing uncharacteristically
difficult, call 000 immediately.
Asthma Foundation of Tasmania