Società Italiana di Pneumologia / Italian Respiratory Society

For the National Lung Day we have invited our local representatives to organize local initiatives in order to raise awareness on this theme. We have asked them to organize in a public space (ex. A square) or in their medical clinics entertainment activities and informational meetings.

Link: www.sipirs.it

Turkish Respiratory Society (TRS)

We launched a special awareness project on the 52nd anniversary of our foundation with the message "We Walk with Endless Breath for a Healthy Future". This social responsibility project, entitled “The Healthy Future Walk: Take a Breath, Be Breath", aims to raise awareness about lung health and respiratory diseases, and invites people of all ages to participate in a more healthy life. over 1 million real steps have subsequently been taken in support of COPD awareness to date. World Lung Day. On this special day, the results of the project will be announced and the importance of the subject will again be emphasized. By World COPD Day, on which the project will be concluded, the goal is to achieve 3.6 million steps.

Irish Thoracic Society

media launch we are having on 15 Sept in Dublin for World Lung Day

Link: www.irishthoracicsociety.com

ELF HLFL

3 September: Healthy Lungs for Life spirometry event, Barcelona

HLFL winners

Congratulations to the 10 successful applicants for the latest round of Healthy Lungs for Life grant applications focused on World Lung Day, joint funded by FIRS. Cameroon, Ghana, UK, Cyprus, Iran, India and more.

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Updated 27 March 2020. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) describe coronaviruses as a large family of viruses that can cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain that has not been identified in humans before.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

What are the symptoms?

• Mild symptoms are cold-like in presentation-- including fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
• Older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease. In these more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

How can coronavirus be prevented?

There are currently no vaccines for COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

WHO also recommends avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking eggs and meat.

Resources from FIRS Societies

Our international respiratory societies have produced materials for all on COVID-19, click below to view:

• American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST)
  • Advice from the front lines, video interviews
  • Resources
• American Thoracic Society (ATS)
  • ATS & APSR Joint Webinar: Global perspective on COVID19
  • Response
• Asociación Latino Americana De Tórax (ALAT)
  • Resources
  • Statement
• European Respiratory Society (ERS)
  • All information and resources
  • COVID19 Q&A
  • Watch the ERS COVID-19 webinars
• European Lung Foundation (ELF)
  • COVID-19 Q&A for people with lung conditions, answered by an expert
• International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union)
  • Toolkit
  • Read the latest statement
  • Editorial on the benefits of face masks
• Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)
  • Recommendations for inhaled asthma controller medications during the COVID-19 epidemic
  • FAQ on asthma management
• Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)
  • COVID-19 guidance

Keep updated with the very latest information from:

• World Health Organisation
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
  • World map of COVID-19 cases
• JAMA Network
• American Medical Association
• WHO Live COVID19 Updates