First Aid Treatment For Asthma

Important Information
• Asthma attacks can occur suddenly or they can develop over a few hours or days
• A patient suffering from a mild asthma attack will normally experience difficulty breathing (wheezing)
• In a severe asthmatic attack you may not be able to hear the wheezing sound and the patient may experience difficulty speaking, drowsiness or unconsciousness
• A severe asthma attack is a medical emergency, follow primary care procedures

Patient Care for Asthma; A lung condition usually controlled by medication
STOP - Assess and observe the scene; Does the patient have a medic alert tag and medication?
THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan
ACT - Check responsiveness, perform a primary assessment and monitor the patient's Cycle of Care - AB-CABS
Reassure and calm the patient, encourage them to sit leaning forwards
Ensure plenty of fresh air and enable the patient to use their medication
If the symptoms don't ease after three minutes, as the patient to take a second dose
If the patient doesn't improve or in a severe or first attack, Alert EMS
Continue to monitor the patient's lifeline until EMS arrives

First Aid Advice & Information for Asthma is for guidance only - Click Here to get Trained in CPR & First Aid