Asthma Emergency

What is an acute asthma episode?

People with asthma have extra-sensitive airways. In an acute asthma episode, people's airways may swell and narrow, causing wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing.

What do I do if someone has an acute asthma episode?

Be calm and reassuring.Sit the person down and get them to lean forward slightly. Ensure that their arms are supported by their knees, a table or the arms of a chair. 

Give 6 puffs of a blue Reliever inhaler (puffer)–Ventolin, Salamol, Respigen or Bricanyl. Use the person’s own inhaler if possible. If not, use a First Aid kit inhaler or borrow one from someone else. Remember to give just 1 puff at a time.

Relievers are best given through a spacer (except for Bricanyl which cannot be used with a spacer).  It makes the delivery of the drug more effective. If no spacer is available you can use a polystyrene cup: punch a hole in the bottom and insert the inhaler through the hole. Place the top end of the cup over the patient's mouth and nose and activate the inhaler.

If there is no improvement, give another 6 puffs (1 puff at a time). This can be repeated up to 6 times (a total of 36 breaths).

If little or no improvement, CALL AN AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY (DIAL 111) and state simply and clearly that the person is having an acute asthma episode. Keep giving 6 puffs every six minutes until the ambulance arrives.

                                                   

With spacer

  • Shake inhaler and insert mouthpiece into spacer
  • Place spacer mouthpiece in person’s mouth and fire one puff
  • Ask the person to breathe in and out normally for about 6 breaths
  • Repeat in quick succession until 6 puffs have been given

 

Without spacer

  • Shake inhaler
  • Place mouthpiece in the person’s mouth
  • Fire 1 puff as the person inhales slowly and steadily
  • Ask the person to hold that breath for 6 seconds, then take 6 normal breaths. Repeat until 6 puffs have been given.

 


 

 

 

What if it’s someone’s first acute asthma episode?

If someone collapses and appears to have difficulty breathing, CALL AN AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY, whether or not the person is known to have asthma.

  • Give 6 puffs of a reliever and repeat if no improvement.
  • Keep giving 6 puffs every 6 minutes until the ambulance arrives.
  • No harm is likely to results from giving a reliever to someone who does not have asthma.

Remember what to do…A-S-T-H-M-A…, Assess, Sit, Treat, Help, Monitor, All Okay!