May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month

May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about these conditions and support individuals managing them daily. This month provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding, promote prevention, and foster accessible care throughout our community.

🚑 How Asthma Affects EMS Services

• Around 11% of adult emergency department patients with asthma arrive via EMS, translating to roughly 150,000 EMS asthma-related responses each year in the U.S.

• Patients with asthma transported by EMS often present with higher acuity—they’re more frequently triaged as urgent and undergo more diagnostic testing (lab work and imaging).

• They are also almost three times more likely to be admitted to the hospital compared to patients arriving by other means.

• National EMS data review shows that during asthma or COPD exacerbations, Advanced Life Support units respond in more than 90% of cases, documenting vital signs, administering supplemental oxygen in most hypoxic cases, and providing inhaled beta-agonists—though there are still opportunities to increase the use of anticholinergics and corticosteroids.

By recognizing these impacts during Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, we honor the critical role EMS plays in responding to acute asthma events and supporting long-term care. Let’s continue to raise awareness, provide compassionate support, and improve outcomes for those living with asthma in our community.

We encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more about these conditions and ways to support those affected. Together, we can help create a healthier, safer environment for our community—one where individuals living with asthma and allergies can breathe easier and thrive.