Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker advises a high risk of thunderstorm asthma forecast for the Central and West and South Gippsland districts today.
The combination of forecast high grass pollen levels and thunderstorms with strong winds means that there is a chance that a large number of people may develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time.
Moderate risk forecasts are also in place for the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, North Central, Northern Country, North East and East Gippsland districts.
Health and emergency services are monitoring the situation closely and are ready to respond.
You can protect yourself and those in your care by following these simple steps:
- Monitor the thunderstorm asthma risk forecast on the VicEmergency app;
- Avoid being outdoors in a storm, especially the winds that precede them;
- Take your preventative medication as directed, even when you’re symptom free;
- Carry your reliever and know how to manage an asthma attack. Follow your asthma action plan or use asthma first aid.
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