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)

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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

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Patient Care; Asthma

• STOP - Assess and observe the scene; Is the patient wearing a medic alert tag and do they have 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

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• 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 do not ease after three minutes, ask 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

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