Signs that you are suffering from an ASTHMA Mild to moderate asthma symptoms (initiate asthma first aid) include:
Slight trouble breathing; ability to speak in full sentences; ability to walk or move about; may have a cough or wheeze; minor difficulty breathing; ability to walk or move around
- Severe asthma symptoms (call triple zero (000) for an ambulance and start asthma first aid immediately) include:
An entire phrase cannot be said in a single breath because of the limitations of breathing.
As a result of straining on the skin between the ribs or at the base of the neck, cough or wheeze reliever medications may not last as long as they should.
- Asthma symptoms that are life-threatening (call triple zero (000) for an ambulance and begin asthma first aid) include:
- Finds it really difficult to take a breath (gasping for air)
- Having difficulty saying one or two words every breath
- When your lips become blue because you are confused or weary, the symptoms grow worse very rapidly.
When does an ASTHMA EMERGENCY occur?
- It doesn’t take long for your symptoms to worsen.
- You are experiencing acute shortness of breath, are unable to talk comfortably, or your lips are becoming blue
- Your reliever inhaler provides just little or no relief for you
- An asthma episode might become an emergency, demanding first aid and immediate medical intervention.
Understand the four stages of first aid for asthma.
Everyone in the community should be familiar with the four phases of first aid for asthma, which are listed below.
To provide asthma first aid, follow these steps:
Step 1:
- Place the individual in an upright position.
- Maintain your composure and soothing demeanour.
- Don’t just leave them to their devices.
Step 2:
- Use the blue/grey reliever puffer to provide four distinct puffs.
- Shake the puffer a little.
- 1 puff should be placed into the spacer.
- Take four deep breaths through the spacer. Continue until a total of 4 puffs have been taken. You may also inhale four puffs straight via your mouth if you don’t have a spacer.
- Inhale either a Bricanyl inhaler (for those aged 6 and above) or a Symbicort inhaler (for those aged 6 and up) and remember to shake before each puff and take four deep breaths (over 12).
Step 3:
- Take a four-minute break.
- Wait for four minutes. If there is no relief after four further separate puffs of blue/grey reliever, repeat Step 2 OR administer one additional dosage of Bricanyl or Symbicort inhaler.
- In case there is still no improvement, phone triple zero (000) to summon an ambulance.
Step 4:
- As long as emergency aid is not arriving, continue to give the victim four separate puffs every four minutes.
People who are experiencing a severe allergic response (anaphylaxis) may also have symptoms that are similar to asthma. If you are still confused about if you have the clear systems of asthma, firstaidforasthmaattacks.com can help you out in clearing all your doubts. Take action if the individual has an anaphylactic action plan in place and follow the guidelines. If they have a history of severe allergies and have access to an adrenaline auto injector (commonly known as an epi-pen), they should use it first before taking asthma medicine.