Asthma Attacks

hellonotarealdr
Jun 9
2 min read

Updated: Jun 25

Asthma attacks have very visible outward symptoms like breathlessness, coughing and wheezing, which is why it can be scary to try and deal with them. However, most asthmatics will have an inhaler on them, or — in schools — one will be close by — so staying calm and acting quickly can make all the difference.

Symptoms

Asthma attacks have symptoms that are very easy to spot. These include:

Breathlessness
Wheezing
Coughing
Distress/anxiety
Signs of hypoxia* - grey-blue lips, earlobes and nailbeds

What to do

Sit the casualty* down in a comfortable position — make sure their back is supported and leaning against something, and their knees are drawn up to their chest.
Ask them to take their usual dose of inhaler (usually blue).
- If they have no inhaler, call emergency services immediately.
- If they have a spacer*, ask them to use it with their inhaler as this works best, especially for young children.
Ask the casualty to take a puff every 30–60 seconds, until they have had 10 puffs. If the attack has not eased by now, it is likely a severe attack.
If the attack is severe and the casualty is getting worse/becoming very tired, call emergency services immediately.
Keep monitoring the casualty and be ready to perform CPR if they become unresponsive.

Summary:

Asthma attacks can be scary, but most people will have an inhaler close by so quick action can easily save lives. You should ask the casualty to sit down comfortably and use their inhaler (and spacer) as normal. After taking 10 puffs, if the attack has not gotten better, it is a severe attack and you should call 999.

Glossary:

Hypoxia: when your body doesn't have enough oxygen.

Casualty: the person that's hurt in a first aid scenario.

Spacer: a device you attach to the end of your inhaler. It helps to make sure you don't take too much medicine too quickly, and stops any of the medicine escaping (because the medicine inside an inhaler is sprayed out like hairspray).

For Older Learners:

Use these questions to challenge yourself!

Especially in slightly older children, asthma attacks can resemble panic/anxiety attacks. How might you be able to distinguish between them?
How does a spacer improve effectiveness of inhalers, especially for young children?
Imagine you are a family doctor or school nurse. How might you teach young asthmatic children about the possible severity of their condition without scaring them?