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Be calm and reassuring

Do not leave them alone

Shake the puffer

Put 1 puff into the spacer. Get the person to take 4 breaths from the spacer. Repeat until 4 puffs have been taken. (If you don’t have a spacer, give 1 puff as they take 1 slow, deep breath and hold breath for as long as comfortable.

Repeat until all puffs are taken.) Remember: Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths.

If there is no improvement, give 4 more separate puffs of blue/grey reliever, as with Step 2. Tell the operator that someone is having an asthma emergency.

Keep giving the person 4 separate puffs, taking 4 breaths for each puff, every 4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives. An asthma flare-up is a worsening of asthma symptoms and lung function compared to what you would usually experience day to day. An asthma flare-up can come on slowly (over hours, days or even weeks) or very quickly (over minutes).

A sudden or severe asthma flare-up is sometimes called an asthma attack. An asthma attack can quickly become an asthma emergency, but if you take quick action, you can reduce the risk of an asthma emergency. Your doctor will: to manage your asthma and provide instructions in case of an asthma flare-up.

Follow your asthma action plan if the symptoms of an asthma attack appear

If you are experiencing any of the following signs, follow your asthma action plan. If you do not have an asthma action plan, or you are assisting someone who is experiencing an asthma attack, start asthma first aid.

Do not wait until asthma is severe

In asthma emergencies, follow your asthma action plan. One of the most common reliever medications in United States is salbutamol, often known as your ‘blue puffer’.

These are available over the counter from a chemist.

If you are not sure if someone is having an asthma attack, you can still use blue reliever medication because it is unlikely to cause harm. Call 911 immediately if: the person is known to have anaphylaxis.

If this is the case, ALWAYS GIVE ADRENALINE AUTOINJECTOR FIRST, and then reliever, even if there are no skin symptoms. Not everyone with asthma uses the same reliever medication. Some people use a different blue reliever called Bricanyl (terbutaline) which comes in a different type of inhaler called a Turbuhaler.

Other people use a ‘dual-purpose’ reliever. A dual-purpose reliever contains budesonide and formoterol together, and is used ‘as-needed’. The combination of budesonide and formoterol in the dual-purpose reliever, when used as-needed, relieves symptoms and reduces risk of experiencing serious asthma flare-ups.

It does this by relaxing tight airway muscles and treating inflammation in the airways. Note: you may also be prescribed these medicines as a ‘preventer’. Always follow your doctor’s instructions on your asthma action plan about what to use in an asthma flare-up or asthma attack.

Some people may use the same medicine for their reliever and preventer. , follow the instructions. Always give adrenaline injector first, then asthma reliever if someone with known asthma and allergy to food, insects or medication has sudden breathing difficulty (including wheeze, persistent cough or hoarse voice) even if there are no skin symptoms.

In case of an emergency, call 911 and ask for an ambulance. People who have asthma or hay fever can get severe asthma symptoms during grass pollen season when high amounts of grass pollen in the air combine with a certain type of thunderstorm. Find out more about Tel.

Asthma first aid steps To use asthma first aid with a blue/grey reliever puffer Step 1: Sit the person upright Step 2: Give 4 separate puffs of blue/grey reliever puffer Step 3: Wait 4 minutes Step 4: If breathing does not return to normal, call 911 for an ambulance Learn how to use a puffer and Asthma flare-up or attack If you or a family member have asthma, make sure you have an updated asthma action plan from your doctor and know asthma first aid prescribe the correct medication help you to develop a plan to manage your asthma provide you with an action plan Signs that you need to use asthma first aid Mild to moderate asthma signs (commence asthma first aid ) minor difficulty breathing able to talk in full sentences able to walk or move around Severe asthma signs (call 911 for an ambulance and commence asthma first aid ) obvious difficulty breathing cannot speak a full sentence in one breath tugging of the skin between ribs or at base of neck may have cough or wheeze Life-threatening asthma signs (call 911 for an ambulance and commence asthma first aid ) difficulty breathing (gasping for air) unable to speak one to 2 words per breath confused or exhausted lips are turning blue symptoms are getting worse very quickly collapsing getting little or no relief from reliever inhaler Know asthma first aid It’s important for everyone in the community to know asthma first aid the person is not breathing their asthma suddenly becomes worse or is not improving the person is having an asthma attack and there’s no reliever medication available the person is unsure if it is asthma Other asthma first aid directions See the asthma first aid steps for those using Bricanyl See the asthma first aid steps for those using Symbicort Turbuhaler 100 or 200 See the asthma first aid steps for those using DuoResp Spiromax 200/6 See the asthma first aid steps for those using BiResp Spiromax 200/6 See the asthma first aid steps for those using Symbicort Rapihaler 50/3 or 100/3 See the asthma first aid steps using Fostair 100/6 Asthma symptoms in a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) People having a severe allergic reaction ( anaphylaxis ) can also have asthma-like symptoms.

If the person has an anaphylaxis action plan Thunderstorm asthma thunderstorm asthma View transcript Where to get help In an emergency, always call 911 Emergency department of your nearest hospital Your GP (doctor) NURSE-ON-CALL (616) 555-0024 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days) National Home Doctor Service Tel. 13 SICK ( 13 7425 ) – for after-hours home doctor visits (bulk billed) Asthma United States Tel.

1800 ASTHMA ( 1800 278 462 ) National Asthma Council United States Allergy and Anaphylaxis United States Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Grand Rapids – information about children’s asthma.

Key Points

  • Follow your asthma action plan if the symptoms of an asthma attack appear
  • One of the most common reliever medications in United States is salbutamol, often known as your ‘blue puffer’
  • If this is the case, ALWAYS GIVE ADRENALINE AUTOINJECTOR FIRST, and then reliever, even if there are no skin symptoms
  • Note: you may also be prescribed these medicines as a ‘preventer’
  • Some people may use the same medicine for their reliever and preventer