📕 Node [[english_asthma]]
📄 english_asthma.md by @KGBicheno

# Asthma emergency

Go to the [[First Aid Main Page]] or the [[Master Contents Page]]

An asthma emergency is potentially life-threatening. Most people who suffer asthma attacks are aware of their asthma and should have an action plan and medication. They may wear a medical alert device. In an emergency, or if a patient does not have their own reliever, use another personÂ’s reliever (if permitted under local state or territory regulations), or one from a first aid kit. If the patient is having difficulty breathing but has not previously had an asthma attack, follow WHAT TO DO

Signs and symptoms Mild to moderate asthma attack • increasingly soft to loud wheeze

• persistent cough

• minor to obvious difficulty breathing

Asthma emergency • symptoms get worse very quickly

• little or no relief from inhaler

• severe shortness of breath, focused only on breathing

• unable to speak normally

• pallor, sweating

• progressively more anxious, subdued or panicky

• blue lips, face, earlobes, fingernails

• loss of consciousness

What to do 1 Follow DRSABCD. 2 Help the patient to sit down in a comfortable position. 3 Reassure and stay with the patient. 4 If requested, help the patient to follow their action plan.

How to give medication (4:4:4) Use a spacer if available. 1 Give 4 separate puffs of blue/grey reliever puffer: • shake the inhaler

• give 1 puff

• take 4 breaths

• repeat until 4 puffs have been given. 2 Wait 4 minutes 3 If there is no improvement, give 4 more separate puffs of blue/grey reliever as above. 4 If the patient still cannot breath normally, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. 5 Keep giving 4 puffs every 4 minutes (as above) until medical aid arrives.

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