Warning ahead of Eleventh Night bonfires to prepare people with lung conditions

Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland’s annual survey has revealed that more than 2 in 5 (44%) of people with lung conditions surveyed in Northern Ireland said air pollution is a respiratory trigger and 69.5% said air pollution impacted their health or made their lung condition worse.^{1, 2}

Breathing in smoke can irritate airways, causing them to become inflamed and narrow. This can trigger the symptoms of someone’s lung condition, such as coughing, wheezing or breathlessness. People with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should avoid being near bonfires if they affect their lung condition, but this is not always possible: 

Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland is highlighting the following top tips to help ensure people with lung conditions stay well during the Eleventh Night celebrations:  

• Stand well back from the bonfire. Check which direction the wind is blowing, so you can avoid breathing in too much smoke
• Take your preventer medicines as prescribed
• If you use a reliever inhaler, always have it with you. Use it quickly if your symptoms get worse
• If you use a self-management or action plan, keep a copy with you. Make sure your friends and family know what to do and when to get help if your asthma symptoms suddenly get worse
• Visit Asthma + Lung UK website to share the charity’s ‘what to do in an asthma attack’ advice with friends and family.

Joseph Carter Head of Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland said:

“Smoke from bonfires causes air pollution that can make lung condition symptoms worse, such as coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. This can lead to a flare-up or an asthma attack, which can be life threatening.

“We are urging people with a lung condition to take extra care if they attend a display. Anyone with a lung condition like asthma or COPD should stand well back from bonfires and make sure you have your reliever inhaler with you. If you are going with friends and family, make sure they know what to do in an asthma attack.

“If people follow our top tips such as taking their preventer inhaler as prescribed and keeping their reliever inhaler with them, they can help manage the risks and stay safe during the festivities."

For more health advice on how to stay well with a lung condition, head to our website: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/manage/fireworks

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References:

Data via Asthma + Lung UK’s Life with a Lung Condition survey. The survey ran between February – March 2025, and gained 9387 responses in total across the UK, and 225 responses from people in Northern Ireland.

1. 2 out of 5 (44%) people with lung conditions surveyed in Northern Ireland said air pollution is a trigger - Asthma + Lung UK’s Annual Life with a Lung Condition Survey 2025

2. 7 out of 10 (69.5%) people with lung conditions surveyed in Northern Ireland said air pollution impacted their health or made their lung condition worse - Asthma + Lung UK’s Annual Life with a Lung Condition Survey 2025.