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GSK’s aid to California fire relief efforts

8 September 2009

In September, wild fires swept through the National Forests to the north of Los Angeles City. An area roughly the size of Chicago was destroyed which prompted thousands to evacuate their homes.

GSK lent support to the relief efforts for communities caught up in the fires by donating 24,000 units of Ventolin inhalers to low income and uninsured individuals at risk from asthma and breathing difficulties, aggravated by the prevalence of wildfire ash and smoke. 

“Some of our clinic partners are seeing double the numbers of non-asthmatic patients presenting with acute asthma systems. With such poor air quality the Ventolin from GSK has been a life saver” explains Brett Williams, Emergency Response Coordinator, Direct Relief International, one of GSK’s primary response partners in times of disasters.