Good afternoon, Madam Chair, and members of the committee.
My name is Jill Frigon. I'm a health initiatives coordinator with the Lung Association of Saskatchewan and a registered nurse.
I am here today to represent the many patients I work with every day who have severe pet allergies, asthma, and various other respiratory diseases. I'm here not only as a health care professional but also as a patient. I have asthma and have lived with asthma my entire life. That is one of the reasons I'm presenting to you by video conference down the street from you all, because I could not be in the same room as an animal without having an asthma attack.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes the airways to become inflamed, making it very difficult to breathe. Asthma is the one of the leading causes of the hospitalization of children and is the most common chronic disease among children.
Asthma attacks can be brought on by exposure to pets and can lead to episodes of extreme breathlessness. Asthma attacks require treatments immediately, and often medical attention. Asthma attacks can in fact be life-threatening.
Pets are a common trigger for asthma, causing flare-ups and asthma attacks. When I am exposed to a dog or cat and/or their dander, I experience an asthma attack. I'll give you an example of what that looks like.
In addition to sneezing, coughing, and having watering eyes, I find that my chest becomes very tight; it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest. I struggle to breathe. When that happens, I am forced to increase my medications, as my airways have become inflamed, constricted, and narrowed. After the initial attack and after taking my medications, it's important to point out, I won't feel healthy again for weeks, as the inflammatory process is actually quite a bit longer than the initial attack. With that, I'm often so ill I have to miss work, and I'm unable to provide for my family or care for my patients, which is really important.
For much of the first ten years of my life, I lived in the hospital because of my asthma. At the age of three, I was exposed to a family friend's cat, and as a result ended up staying for several days in the intensive care unit at the Regina General Hospital. That gives you a picture of how severe asthma can really be.
Over the years, I have developed a much better understanding of how to manage my asthma, for sure. I want to point out that the research is very clear: people with asthma need to avoid their triggers, in addition to taking their medications and lifestyle interventions. One of these triggers is often pets.
The consequences of being exposed to triggers such as pets vary. The spectrum is rather broad. There are people who can have mild reactions, just experiencing watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing. But people can also be at the other end of the spectrum and experience severe breathlessness, which can be life-threatening, for sure.
I work very hard to keep healthy and physically fit, and I avoid my triggers at all costs, just so I can do the things I love to do. I'm training for a half marathon; I'm a dancer in a dance company; and I teach fitness classes on the side on a regular basis, when my asthma is under control.
In my career I studied in the fields of kinesiology and adapted physical activity, working with people with disabilities, which led me to nursing. So I have seen first-hand how a disability can really affect one's quality of life. I do not wish to feel disabled because of my asthma.
Today I represent the many patients, families, and loved ones whom I care for, and they all wish to travel safely. I'm asking you today not to put corporate needs ahead of the public's health—and mine.
I flew with Air Canada from Saskatchewan to be here to speak with you today. If a dog or cat had been on my flight, I would not have had this opportunity to speak with you, to share my story, and to represent my patients. I would simply be too ill and too short of breath to speak.
So please consider the Lung Association's request today.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.