Asthma Week 2026 is shining a light on asthma and women, making it a timely reminder for schools, workplaces, healthcare and care environments to review how respiratory care support is stored, accessed and managed. Asthma Week runs annually from the 1st to 7th September, with 2026’s theme focused on the experiences of women living with asthma.
For many organisations, asthma readiness is not about providing medical advice. It is about making sure asthma support items, first aid information and everyday care supplies are easy to locate when needed. This may include checking first aid kits, reviewing asthma action plans where required, keeping staff aware of internal procedures and storing support items clearly.
Why does asthma readiness matter during Asthma Week 2026?
Asthma can affect people in many everyday settings, including schools, workplaces, sporting areas, care environments and community spaces. This year’s Asthma Week theme highlights asthma and women, including how asthma experiences may change across different life stages.
For workplaces, schools and care teams, this reinforces the importance of prepared environments. Staff do not need to provide clinical advice, but they should know where asthma-related first aid items are kept, how to follow internal procedures and when to seek emergency or professional support.
Where is asthma readiness important?
Schools and childcare settings
Asthma readiness may be needed across sick bays, classrooms, sports areas and excursion kits. Clear storage and staff awareness can help ensure asthma support items are easy to find during busy school routines, including for students and staff who may need respiratory care support.
Workplaces and first aid rooms
Workplaces may include asthma readiness as part of broader first aid and workplace safety planning. This can involve reviewing first aid kits, checking where respiratory care support items are stored and making sure staff know how to follow workplace procedures.
Healthcare and community care
Healthcare clinics, community nursing teams and allied health environments may support women and people with asthma as part of everyday care. Supplies should be stored in a way that supports access, hygiene and workflow consistency.
Aged care, NDIS and home care
In aged care, NDIS and home care settings, asthma readiness may involve supporting individuals with their asthma action plans, keeping support items accessible and helping carers identify where important supplies are stored.
Sport, travel and shared environments
Asthma symptoms may occur during physical activity, travel or time spent in shared environments. Sporting clubs, community groups and travel kits may benefit from clear storage, regular checks and easy access to first aid items.
How does the Asthma Week theme relate to care environments?
The 2026 Asthma Week theme is an opportunity to recognise that asthma can affect women across different ages, roles and settings. This may include students, staff, carers, healthcare workers, aged care residents, community care clients and people accessing workplace or first aid support.
Prepared environments can help make respiratory care support easier to access when needed. This may include clear first aid areas, visible storage, accessible asthma action plans where required and support items that are checked regularly.
What should asthma readiness include?
Asthma readiness should be guided by asthma action plans, workplace procedures and professional advice. In general, teams may consider whether asthma support items are stored in a visible location, first aid areas are clearly marked and supplies are not hidden behind unrelated products.
Regular checks are also important. Packaging condition, expiry dates and stock levels should be reviewed so teams can identify missing, damaged or outdated items before they are needed.
Preparedness also depends on people knowing what to do. Staff should understand where asthma support items are stored, how to follow internal first aid procedures and when to escalate for medical assistance.
What role do asthma spacers play?
Asthma spacers are commonly used with pressurised metered dose inhalers, often called puffers. The National Asthma Council Australia explains that using a spacer can make it easier to breathe in asthma medication and help more medicine reach the lungs.
For schools, workplaces and care environments, an asthma spacer may form part of practical asthma readiness when used according to asthma action plans, first aid guidance and professional advice. The Livingstone Disposable Cardboard Asthma Spacer is a flat, foldable option designed to support respiratory care readiness, while other everyday consumables can support storage, hygiene and preparedness around the care environment.
What everyday supplies can support respiratory care readiness?
Everyday supplies do not treat asthma, but they can support the environment around asthma readiness.
Tissues and hand hygiene products can support general respiratory hygiene in shared spaces. Cleaning wipes and surface supplies can help reset sick bays, first aid rooms and care areas between users. Storage items and labels can help keep asthma support items visible, organised and easy to identify. Gloves, masks and PPE may be used where required by the setting, task or workplace policy.
How can teams review asthma readiness during Asthma Week?
Asthma Week is a practical opportunity to review whether respiratory care support is easy to access. Teams can check whether asthma support items are stored clearly, first aid kits are stocked, asthma action plans are accessible where required, hygiene supplies are available nearby and staff know the correct internal procedure to follow.
These simple checks can help schools, workplaces and care teams maintain more prepared environments beyond Asthma Week.
Supporting Asthma Week 2026 awareness through prepared environments
Asthma Week 2026 is a reminder that asthma awareness should include both health conversations and practical readiness. This year’s focus on asthma and women highlights the importance of making support easier to access across schools, workplaces, healthcare, aged care, NDIS, home care and community settings.
Livingstone supports prepared care environments with asthma spacers and everyday healthcare consumables that help keep essential support items organised, accessible and ready when needed.
References
Asthma Australia 2026, Asthma Week 2026: Asthma and Women, Asthma Australia, viewed September 2026, https://asthma.org.au/get-involved/events/asthma-week/asthma-week-2026/
Asthma Australia 2026, Join Asthma Awareness Week Events Across Australia, Asthma Australia, viewed September 2026, https://asthma.org.au/get-involved/events/asthma-week/
National Asthma Council Australia 2026, Using your medicines correctly, National Asthma Council Australia, viewed September 2026, https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/understanding-asthma/using-your-medicines-correctly
