Asthma: sufferers on high alert, with evening Melbourne thunderstorm expected

PARAMEDICS responded to “several dozen” calls relating to asthma yesterday afternoon but Ambulance Victoria say it’s unclear how many of those were weather related.

Hayfever sufferers have rushed to stock up on Ventolin inhalers in Melbourne. Picture: AAP

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PARAMEDICS responded to “several dozen” calls relating to asthma yesterday afternoon but Ambulance Victoria say it’s unclear how many of those were weather related.

It was unclear if the calls were all from the same area or specifically how many there were statewide.

Temperatures peaked at 31.7 degrees in Melbourne just after 4pm today.

The Bureau of Meteorology now say there is a slight chance of a thunderstorm this evening.

Some storm activity was reported in the Geelong area this afternoon but minimal rainfall was recorded.

Earlier in the day, the National Asthma Council Australia said expected thunderstorm conditions combined with high pollen counts could lead to breathing problems for people with asthma and hay fever.

MORE: WHAT IS THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA?

Some of the first victims of thunderstorm asthma: Omar Moujalled, 18, Hope Carnevali, 20, and Apollo Papadopoulos, 35

“As we have seen with the recent events in Melbourne any serious asthma attack can be life-threatening and have tragic consequences,” Dr Jonathan Burdon said.

“Act quickly if you start to have symptoms such as shortness of breath or wheezing.”

Tim Cartwright, who was acting Victoria Police chief commissioner in 2015, will review Ambulance Victoria’s response to the storm.

“We know there were a number of families who lost loved ones and it is essential we review every aspect of our response so we can learn lessons from events such as this,” Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker said.

The results of Mr Cartwright’s review will be given to the Inspector General of Emergency Management, who is doing a review of the health system’s response to the storm.