The dangers of Bonfire Night for people living with lung conditions in Wales

Around 300,000 people in Wales are living with asthma and nearly 180,000 are living with COPD.¹

Exposure to smoke can irrate the airways and worsen symtoms including breathlessness, wheezing and coughing. Insevere cases, it can lead to people ending up in hospital seriously unwell. This risk could be made worse by falling temperatures, which can also make breathing more difficult for people with lung conditions. 

As winter gets closer and temperatures drop, cold air can cause airways to narrow, and increase mucus  production, making it harder for people with asthma and COPD to breathe.       

Nearly half of people (49%) with lung conditions, including asthma and COPD, surveyed by the charity in Wales, said air pollution affected them, while more than two thirds (70%) identified cold air as a trigger.² 

Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is urging people with lung conditions to stay safe this Bonfire Night by following these top tips:      

• Take your preventer inhaler everyday as prescribed 
• If you use one, always carry your reliever inhaler with you, so you can use it quickly if you need to
• If you find that smoke is one of your triggers, consider staying indoors. If you do go out, stand well back from the bonfire   
• Make sure friends and family know what to do and when to get help if your symptoms suddenly get worse. If you use a self-management plan, keep a copy with you
• If cold air is a trigger for you, wrap a scarf loosely around your mouth and nose to warm the air before you breathe it in, if this is comfortable
• People with asthma and COPD should also make sure they are up to date with recommended vaccinations, including flu vaccination, as respiratory infections are a major trigger for severe exacerbations during the winter months      

Ryan from the Brecon Beacons, has severe asthma which was diagnosed when he was a young child. Throughout his life, he’s been in-and-out of hospital, including ICU, experiencing severe asthma flare ups. As a child, he was hospitalised because of bonfire and firework smoke with smoke still affecting his asthma. 

“Organised big community Bonfire Night events don't worry me as much because they are scheduled, allowing me to avoid them and stay indoors. It is the unannounced garden fireworks and bonfires that cause real issues. The moment I encounter smoke in the air, my chest  tightens and my airways restrict.

“I understand that fireworks and bonfires bring people joy, but I want to raise awareness about their impact on people with  lung conditions. When I am out and smell smoke, I have to turn around and go home. I never leave the house without my reliever inhaler. 

“This sensitivity to smoke started in childhood when I was hospitalised by bonfire and firework smoke that drifted into our house, despite my mum sealing the doors with rolled-up towels and keeping windows shut. While I've learned to adapt over the years and have all my medication in place, the unpredictable November weather—swinging from freezing cold to mild—is another major trigger. 

“As a single dad, I used to sometimes brave community Bonfire Night events for my kids by following all health advice, identifying the first aid tent and tracking my symptoms closely and reacting accordingly. However, I haven't gone in years. 

“This year, my lungs are still recovering from the lingering effects of wildfire smoke, and because I am on extra medication, I will be staying safely inside.”

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, said:      

“Smoke from bonfires and fireworks, when coupled with colder air, can make asthma and COPD symptoms worse, meaning that in the next week, people could face a dangerous combination of smoke and a drop in temperatures. Smoke and fine particles can remain in the air for hours after a bonfire or fireworks display, and under some weather conditions may persist for longer.   

“As we approach this Bonfire Night, the best thing you can do if you have a lung condition like asthma is take your preventer inhaler every day as prescribed, as this helps reduce airway inflammation and makes symptoms and asthma attacks less likely. Keep your reliever inhaler to hand if you have one, so you can use it to quickly relieve symptoms if they do come on. If the smoke from fireworks, bonfires or cold air has brought on your symptoms before, be extra careful or maybe enjoy the display from indoors.   

“However, we know bonfires and fireworks can be good fun, so if you are planning on going to a display, make sure you stand well back from bonfires and fireworks, and check what direction the wind is blowing so you can avoid the smoke. If it’s cold weather, you can try loosely wrapping a scarf around your nose and mouth to warm up the air you’re breathing in.”   

References: 

1. Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) which can be accessed here. The GBD prevalence is the total number of cases in a population at a given time, including both diagnosed and undiagnosed. GBD estimates reflect the true underlying burden using multiple data sources and modelling, so they inherently include individuals who have not been clinically diagnosed.
2. Figures from Welsh respondents to Asthma + Lung UK’s 2025 Life with a Lung Condition Survey.

Caution should be advised when extrapolating this survey to a wider population, as the respondents in Wales were 69% female, 96% white and 76% were over 60 years old.

275 of the 566 people surveyed with a lung condition said their condition(s) were triggered by air pollution. 399 out of 566 people surveyed with a lung condition said their condition(s) were triggered by cold air.