Bushfire smoke help sought in masks, asthma medication, eye drops

Conditions were particularly bad yesterday across the Gunnedah and Tamworth areas, as bushfire smoke and dust blew in from areas east of the New England.

But chemists are reporting demand for asthma medication has already been at double the usual need.

"That's even for people who don't normally get asthma," Blooms' Emily Vincent said.

"People are also coming in looking for eyedrops ... they're getting irritated eyes in the smoke and dust."

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Cahills Soul Pattinson Chemist's Sandra Bargwanna said the demand there for items such as puffers was also double.

People had also been seeking masks to filter out at least some pollutants.

"They are disposable ones with a thicker tissue, and people with asthma and that sort of thing have been looking for them," she said.

Regional public health physician David Durrheim said that, for bigger dust particles, "a surgical mask may filter out some of it".

But for smoke, he warned, they were "useless".

"The P2 mask, which you can pick up from the local hardware, is actually quite good at filtering out the small air particulates, but only if it's well-fitted," he said.

"It has a wire-based nose clasp that needs to be fitted extremely well, and the whole mask needs to fit tightly against the face, covering the nose and mouth.

"Unfortunately, as far as we're aware, we're not sure there are any P2 masks for children."

Dr Durrheim said the best advice was still to stay indoors during these "really hazardous conditions".

"The ideal is to be indoors with windows and doors nicely sealed and - if one has an airconditioner - have it on with indoor air recycling," he said.

"If one has to go outside, obviously we're cautioning against any vigorous activity and, certainly, with the levels you're currently experiencing in Tamworth, we'd been really concerned for asthmatics, anyone with emphysema or other chronic airway disease."

Dr Durrheim said that, for people with an asthma plan, "now is the reason they have an asthma plan".

He urged asthmatics to carry their puffer and preventative, use them if they needed to - "and, if they're struggling with breathlessness and it's not settling, seek emergency assistance".