Lung function testing event held at European Commission for World COPD Day

On Wednesday 20 November 2019, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and ELF hosted a free lung function testing event for workers at the European Commission in Brussels for World COPD Day.

The event aimed to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and promote the importance of lung health by offering free lung function (spirometry) tests to policymakers and other workers in the EU Commission building.

It was also an opportunity to spread the important messages of the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign: breathing clean air, stopping smoking, being active and getting vaccinated – all ways to help prevent chronic lung conditions such as COPD.

ERS and ELF, including ERS President Thierry Troosters, were onsite to talk to people and give out information about COPD, spirometry testing and the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign. The European Commissioner for Health, Vytenis Andriukaitis, showed his support by joining the event and having a lung test.

The event attracted a lot of attention, with 200 commission officials and staff showing a lot of interest in the topic and taking the opportunity to learn more about their lung health.

Find out more about the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign.

Read our spirometry factsheet.

Read our factsheet on COPD.