Charity’s warning over asthma attacks
As children prepare to head back to the classroom, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland warns many could be at risk of having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.
Analysis by Asthma + Lung UK Scotland reveals there was a sharp spike in the number of asthma emergency admissions for children when Scottish kids went back to school last year.
The number of children rushed to hospital with symptoms in September 2025 was more than twice that in July 2025.
Now the charity is concerned hospital admissions for children in Scotland may increase again in August and September this year, as children return to school.
If you are a parent or carer of a child with asthma and are concerned about their return to school, you can help reduce their risk of an asthma attack.
As a priority, make sure they use their steroid preventer inhaler daily, as prescribed, even when they feel well, as this helps stop their airways from getting inflamed over time.
Check that your child's reliever inhaler (usually blue) is in their bag before leaving for school every day. If they use a spacer, make sure they take this too.
Ask your doctor's surgery for an extra reliever inhaler and give it to your child's school or college. Send in a spacer too, if your child uses one. See: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/child/manage/action-plan
Make sure your child knows how to use their inhalers properly.
If a child is having an asthma attack and their symptoms are not improving with a reliever inhaler, call 999 and follow the charity’s advice at www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/child/asthma-attacks.
Asthma + Lung UK Scotland is also encouraging schools to download its free Asthma at School poster from its website.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “We welcome Asthma + Lung UK Scotland's campaign work to raise awareness and help ensure children with asthma get the support they need to stay safe and well at school. Alongside this, Scotland's National Severe Asthma Pathway, introduced earlier this year, is helping to improve the early identification and management of severe asthma across NHS Scotland.”