Asthma First Aid

In an emergency call 111 – DO NOT DRIVE TO AN EMERGENCY CLINIC,

use the waiting time to follow the asthma emergency steps until help arrives.

ASTHMA FIRST AID

  1. Sit the person upright
    - Be calm and reassuring
    - Do not leave them alone
    - If the person has difficulty in speaking two words and blueness around the lips, call 111 immediately.
  2. Give 1 puff of Blue Inhaler 
    - Shake puffer 
    - Insert the puffer into the spacer
    - Give 1 puff into the spacer and take 6 breaths
    - Repeat until 6 puffs have been taken
  3. Wait for 6 minutes
    - If there is no improvement, call 111 for emergency assistance


DANGER SIGNS OF AN ACUTE ASTHMA ATTACK

  • Severe shortness of breath (struggling to breathe)
  • Rapid shallow breathing
  • Wheezing sound when breathing in and out (if wheezing stops with no improvement of symptoms, it is an EXTREME EMERGENCY... dial 111)
  • Chest tightness
  • Unable to speak more than one or two words per breath
  • Distressed or feeling frightened
  • Little or no improvement after using reliever medication
  • Blueness around the lips
  • Hunching over

Note: Not all of the above symptoms may be present

EMERGENCY MEDICATION 

  1. 1 PUFF of blue reliever into Spacer
  2. 6 BREATHS
  3. Repeat 6 TIMES
  4. Wait 6 MINUTES
  5. Repeat
If there is no improvement after the second lot of 6 puffscall 111 and keep giving 6 puffs every 6 minutes until emergency services arrive. 



ATTENTION SYMBICORT USERS
If your asthma is worsening quickly and you are using a Symbicort every 1-2 hours with no improvement, call 111