Asthma First Aid

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 puffs, call 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