How A Throw-away Paper Cup Can Save The Life Of A Child With Asthma

Trinity PR is pleased to support our client Clement Clarke International with the launch of their single use DispozABLE™ Spacer (a valve-less holding chamber to help with the optimal delivery of salbutamol sulphate, a drug most commonly known as Ventolin®).

A disposable cup – favoured by many of the high street’s well known coffee shops – is the inspiration behind the new and scientifically reviewed device for the safe and prompt treatment of school age children suffering acute asthma, which often presents as an emergency situation.

A scientific poster presented at the recent International Society for Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM) conference (Munich, 30 May – 3 June 2015) detailed the results of an independent study into the use of spacers with a pMDI (pressurized metered dose inhaler) as opposed to a pMDI alone, showed that the DispozABLE™ Spacer is suitable for the effective delivery of salbutamol sulphate. The study also reinforced that at low flows, this type of valve-less spacer may perform better than other VHCs (valved holding chambers) which has real clinical implications for infants and children.

However, with around a million children in the UK being treated for asthma, in March 2015 the Government launched new guidelines to keep young people safe in schools, legislating that spare, emergency inhalers and spacers may be kept on site – providing care for the child and reassurance for parents.

Mark Sanders, Managing Director of Clement Clarke International and co-author of the recent study comments; “The launch of this new, ‘single use / single patient’ spacer is extremely timely with the recent shift in understanding about the importance of emergency asthma management in the school setting.

“DispozABLE™ can be used straight from the pack and has been designed to meet a specific market need for a low cost, fast response spacer for delivering medication efficiently.”

Angela Jones, Practice Nurse and Asthma Nurse Specialist comments; “From my experience there are huge discrepancies in the levels of asthma care within schools. Some have excellent policies in place, are well organised with confident, trained staff – whether that’s a designated teacher or member of the office team.

“However, when I worked as school nurse, all too often I would come across teachers and support staff who simply did not have the confidence or basic knowledge to manage an asthma emergency. They were worried about hygiene and safety issues as well as assembling the equipment incorrectly and ultimately doing more harm than good. As such, I fully support the introduction of any device – the simpler the better – that encourages school staff to be more ‘hands on’.”

Read more on Mail Online by clicking here