St John Ambulance Report

Asthma

With Winter well and truly here, and the odd bit of flu going around, I know for me, this is when I’m likely to feel a bit wheezy. An asthma attack is a potentially life-threatening situation, 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 (a blue ‘puffer’), you may use another person’s reliever or one from a first aid kit.

If someone is having difficulty breathing or not breathing properly, this is considered an emergency requiring medical assistance, we all need to breath to live.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of an ASTHMA EMERGENCY

• Symptoms get worse very quickly

• Little or no relief from inhaler

• Severe shortness of breath

• Unable to speak normally

• Pale, sweating, looks petrified

• Progressive change in mental state

• Blue lips, face, earlobes, fingernails

• Loss of consciousness

WHAT TO DO

1 Follow DRSABCD. Call 000, advise that you have an Asthma emergency.

2 Help the patient to sit down in a comfortable position.

3 Reassure and stay with the patient, and stay calm, this is especially important.

4 If requested, help the patient to administer their reliever.

Use a spacer if available.

Shake the inhaler and give 1 puff, allow 4 breaths through a spacer, repeat until the patient has had 4 puffs on their reliever. Wait four minutes, then repeat and give 4 more puffs. If the patient is having difficulty breathing, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance, give the triage nurse as much information as possible. Keep repeating 4 puffs every 4 minutes until medical help arrives.

For the full copy of the fact sheet, visit link

http://www.stjohnnsw.com.au/gu...

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