Acma, Jeeyah Grace T.

BSN 2-A

ASTHMA FIRST-AID
ASSESS
Moderate Symptoms
 Loud wheezing, difficulty of breathing, can only speak in short sentence

Mild Symptoms
 Shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, chest tightness

Severe Symptoms
 Distressed, gasping for breath, difficulty of speaking two words, blueness around the
mouth

SIT
 Help the person sit upright comfortably. Do not lie down.
 Be calm and reassuring
 Stay with them

TREAT
Moderate or Severe
 Give ONE dose at a time of a RELIEVER inhaler. Repeat if necessary, up to 6 times.
Mild
 Give ONE dose at a time of a RELIEVER inhaler. Repeat if necessary. Once free of
symptoms, monitor until all OK.
NOTE: IF a spacer can be used with reliever inhaler, inhale 1 puff through a spacer and
take 6 breaths per puff.


HELP
 If not improving, dial 111 for an ambulance immediately.
 Continue to use the RELIEVER inhaler every few minutes until the ambulance arrives.

MONITORING
 Keep monitoring after 6 minutes for improvement
 If not improving, repeat dose of RELIEVER inhaler every few minutes until emergency
assistance arrives

ALL OK!
 When free of wheeze, cough, or breathlessness, return to a quiet activity.
 If symptoms recur, repeat treatment and rest
REMEMBER: Always see your healthcare practitioner after an asthma attack.
 SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMA

Shortness of breath Chest tightness

Coughing Allergies

DOS
 Take your asthma medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider
 Identify and avoid triggers that can worsen your asthma symptoms, such as
pollens, dust, smoke, and pet dander.
 Use a peak flow meter to monitor your breathing and detect changes in your
asthma symptoms early.
 Keep an asthma action plan that outlines what to do in case of an asthma attack
 Maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a balanced diet to
keep your body healthy and strong

ASTHMA DOS &

DON’TS DON’TS
 Don’t smoke or be around secondhand smoke as it can worsen your asthma
symptoms.
 Don’t ignore your asthma symptoms or delay seeking medical attention when
needed.
 Don’t rely solely on quick-relief inhalers without addressing the underlying causes
of your asthma symptoms.
 Don’t overexert yourself during exercise or physical activity, and always warm up
before starting any exercise routine.
 Don’t forget to carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times in case of an
emergency

NURSING CONSIDERATION

 Position patient upright and maintain a comfortable position

 Encourage/ instruct in deep breathing and directed coughing exercise
 Assess the patient’s respiratory status by monitoring the severity of symptoms,
breath sounds, peak flow, pulse oximetry, and vital signs
 Lung auscultation for wheezing
 Assess for respiratory distress
 Administer medications as prescribed
 Monitor medication compliance
 Administer fluids if the patient is dehydrated
 Obtain baseline data on respiratory function, using a peak flow meter, listen to
breath sound
 Keep the humidity in the house low
 Avoid symptoms that trigger your asthma such as, pollens, dust, smoke, and pet
dander
 Maintaining a quite calm environment to reduce anxiety and promote normal
respiratory rate
 Prepare for mechanical ventilation if patient cannot breathe on his own