As grass pollen season approaches, Victorians are being urged to prepare for the high-risk days of thunderstorm asthma. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has highlighted the importance of the state’s Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma Risk Forecast System, which is up and running until the end of December.
The system provides a three-day forecast covering nine weather districts across the state. It uses a simple traffic light system: green for low risk, orange for moderate, and red for high-risk days. These alerts help those with asthma or hay fever to stay informed and make decisions that protect their health.
For those particularly vulnerable, it’s important to follow their asthma action plan and take prescribed medication. In more severe situations, knowing asthma first aid could make all the difference. On high-risk days, staying indoors and avoiding wind gusts, particularly those that arrive ahead of storms, is advised. Simple actions like keeping doors and windows closed and switching off external air intake on air conditioning systems can further reduce exposure.
The launch of the forecast system back in 2017 followed Melbourne’s devastating 2016 thunderstorm asthma event, where a sudden surge of asthma cases overwhelmed hospitals. Ten lives were lost, and thousands of others suffered breathing difficulties within a short span of time. That tragic day demonstrated how a perfect storm of grass pollen and thunderstorm activity could pose a deadly risk to asthma sufferers.
Thunderstorm asthma happens when high levels of grass pollen mix with specific types of storms, causing many people to experience asthma symptoms at once. The risk forecast, available via the VicEmergency website and app, allows residents to monitor their local area and receive alerts. This early warning system offers valuable time for people to take precautions, making it an essential tool for the upcoming season.
With the forecast active now through December, it’s time to prepare, stay alert, and take simple steps to keep safe during Victoria’s notorious grass pollen season.
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