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