ASTHMA campaigners have called for calm following the shocking death of a Blackburn teenager.

Ann Wainwright, of the Blackburn Area Junior Asthma Club, said that she had already received calls from concerned parents in response to the death of 14-year-old Farzana Kausar.

Farzana, of Edmundson Street, was taken ill at Witton Park High School after suffering an asthma attack.

The school contacted her mother, who took her home. But Farzana later collapsed and was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where she later died.

Doctors told the family that she could have been saved had she been given medical help earlier.

Ann said: "I don't want to comment on Farzana's death but I know it has frightened some parents who have children with asthma. Out of the 2,000 fatalities from asthma each year, just one per cent are children. And of those, 80 per cent are avoidable."

She added: "We would advise all parents of children with asthma to check that their school has a policy of how to deal with an attack."

The club issues the following advice.

ensure the correct medicine is taken

stay calm and reassure the child

encourage slow and deep breathing

call an ambulance urgently if: the medicine has no effect after five to ten minutes; the child is either distressed or unable to talk; the child becomes exhausted; there are any doubts about the child's condition.

Anyone who wants further information about asthma should contact Ann on (01254) 812853.

Farzana's body was yesterday (Wednesday, May 29) flown to Pakistan for burial. Governors of Witton Park High School say they are making inquiries into the incident.

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