Indiana
Asthma attacks, allergen flare ups hit 'peak week' in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — According to the Indiana Department of Health, nearly 1-in-10 adults and 1-in-15 kids in Indiana live with asthma.
Doctors say the third week of September is “Asthma Peak Week,” typically when asthma episode numbers are at their worst. Indiana Department of Health says common asthma triggers are:
- Allergens, such as pollen, pet hair or dander, and mold
- Changes in weather
- Chemical irritants
- Pests such as cockroaches or dust mites
- Exercise
- Outdoor air pollutants
- Respiratory infections such as common cold, flu, or COVID-19
- Stress
- Tobacco and wood smoke inhalation
Dr. Kristen Anderson is a pediatrician at Riley Children’s Health. She joined Daybreak on Monday to discuss why attacks and allergens flare up this time of year.
“Asthma is a disease of the airways that causes them to be more reactive to triggers, and this is the time of year that we start to see those triggers really increase,” Anderson said. “So, allergens, specifically ragweed and mold, are increased. We’re seeing more illnesses with kids back in school and then the weather changes. All of that leads to more asthma attacks.”
Anderson says childhood asthma is one of the primary causes of school absences.
“Schools will send kids home if they have cough congestion, fever or parents choose to keep them home. But also sometimes with asthma, they need more frequent albuterol treatments or they’re maybe breathing more difficult – so parents want to watch them at home. Or they’re missing school because they’re actually in the hospital being treated for their asthma,” Anderson said.
She says parents should take their kids to the hospital if there are any breathing concerns.
“Anything where they’re short of breath, they can’t talk in full sentences, you’re seeing those extra muscle uses – (like) they’re tugging by their neck or at their ribs – those would all be E.R. visits,” she said. “You could consider going to your regular doctor if they need more frequent albuterol or if they’re not responding to their albuterol or just you’re intervening and things aren’t getting better.”
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with asthma, Anderson suggests making an “Asthma Action Plan.”
“Lay out what you should be doing at each step of illness and especially as kids are getting worse you really want to prevent those hospitalizations and intervene earlier,” Anderson said.
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — It’s fair season and a new law uncorks adult beverage sales!
The new Indiana law will go into effect July 1st, making it legal to sell alcohol at county fairs.
The Kosciusko County Fair is set to kick off in just a few weeks and Indiana is officially allowing alcohol to be sold.
The law is bringing back something that’s not necessarily new to this fair.
Here’s what you need to know
The new law will go into effect on July 1st. It officially allows county fairs to apply for fee-free permits to sell alcohol.
Officials with the Kosciusko County Fair say they are participating this year. They are implementing the same guidelines they used when they sold alcohol just at grandstand events.
The difference now is, you can walk around the grounds with your drink. But strict guidelines will be in place for purchasing a drink.
“Actually, we’ve never had any issues. Because we card everybody, so we take that seriously. We also got the ID guides so we can identify the different types of IDs,” said Sheal Dirck, Treasurer of Kosciusko County Fair.
The Kosciusko County Fair already have guidelines in place, so this was an easy transition for the fair.
They will be the only vendors selling alcohol, which will make it easier to control distribution.
The sales will also bring in more revenue.
“Hopefully it allows to keep our ticket prices where they are because right now, insurance, utilities and everything else is going sky high and it’s hard to make ends meet,” said Dirck.
However, some fairs cannot participate because of the July 1st start date, like the Pulaski County Fair, which is going on right now. Pulaski County officials said it is on the agenda for next year. Whereas other fairs are choosing to sit this year out.
“We wanted not spend some time to, to see what that really means for us. It was not a decision we wanted to rush into. But we are happy for the option of it,” said Shelly Steury, GM of Elkhart County 4H Fairgrounds.
Leaders at the St. Joseph County and Elkhart County Fairs said neither of them are selling alcohol.
The Kosciusko County Fair is the only fair that will sell alcohol in our area this year.
Indiana
‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.
Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.
Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.
The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.
The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.
This remains an active investigation.
News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.
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