Schoolchildren with asthma should start using their preventive inhalers before the new school term begins, a charity has warned.

Open Airways co-founder Liz Boden said mould and viruses in schools were responsible for a sharp rise in asthma, which led to emergency room visits peaking during the second or third week of term.

Ms Boden said: “Most schools have been closed up during the long summer holiday and although they are cleaned thoroughly ready for the new term, there is still mould in books and files.

“The mould is a huge problem, as we all know, and has been for years, but as the buildings get older the problem only gets worse.

“We also know what our homes are like if they are closed up for a few days — no wonder the schools have such a problem when they are closed for over two months.”

She said a “very simple” suggestion was to open windows and doors in buildings every day to encourage good ventilation and air flow.

Ms Boden added: “Also, children will be returning to the island from vacations all over the world bringing with them viruses, often picked up on planes.

“As soon as the children are in an enclosed space like a classroom, the viruses spread and the children with asthma start to cough and wheeze.”

Ms Boden added that many children with asthma had been free of symptoms during the summer and stopped using their preventive inhaler.

She said: “They have been in camps, swimming and enjoying plenty of outdoor activities and there are fewer viruses in the summer too. Once children go back to school at the beginning of the new school year, there is a sharp rise in asthma peaking during the second and third week of term.

“Emergency room visits for children with asthma peak at this time of the year all around the world and not just in Bermuda.”

Ms Boden stressed that the preventive inhalers take one to two weeks to be effective and must be taken every day to prevent attacks.

She added that children who stopped taking prescription inhalers such as the brown inhaler Becotide or the orange Flixotide should restart one to two weeks before term began.

Ms Boden warned: “Don’t wait until the asthma symptoms start in the second or third week and then end up in the emergency room.

“Let’s make sure all of our children with asthma have a good start to the new school year.”

For more information, call Open Airways on 232-0264 or e-mail nurse@openairways.com