Most adults could not handle a child's asthma attack, survey reveals

A poll conducted by YouGov last month, among more than 2,000 adults, showed that 88 per cent did not feel confident when dealing with a child's asthma attack.

"The complacency that exists about asthma in the UK is shocking and dangerous and cannot continue," said Neil Churchill, Asthma UK's chief executive. "Every member of the public needs to know the signs of worsening asthma and what steps to take if someone suffers an asthma attack."

Churchill added that not acting quickly enough can result in needless deaths and called upon the NHS to take a "zero tolerance approach" to asthma-related child deaths.

The findings were published today to coincide with World Asthma Day. They also come weeks after a recent inquest into the death of 11-year-old Samuel Linton, from Stockport, who was left in a corridor at school for several hours after suffering an asthma attack.