Asthma First Aid
An asthma attack can take anything from a few minutes to a few days to develop. During an asthma attack, chest tightness, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath can quickly worsen. If this happens, follow the four step Asthma First Aid Plan.
Signs of a severe Asthma attack
Signs could include: - Gasping for breath
- Severe chest tightness
- Inability to speak more than one or two words per breath
- Feeling distressed and anxious
- Little or no improvement after using blue reliever medication (Airomir, Asmol, Bricanyl, Epaq or Ventolin)
- “Sucking in” of the throat and rib muscles
- Blue colouring around the lips (can be hard to see if skin colour also changes)
- Pale and sweaty
As well as the above symptoms, young children appear restless, unable to settle and may have problems eating or drinking due to shortness of breath. They may also have severe coughing and vomiting. If you (or anyone in your care) have any signs of severe asthma attack, call an ambulance. Dial 000 straight away and follow the Asthma First Aid Plan while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
The signs of an asthma attack vary, so a person with asthma may not show all the above signs during a severe attack.  | 1. Sit the person upright and remain calm. Don’t leave them alone. |  | 2. Give 4 puffs of a blue reliever (Airomir, Asmol, Bricanyl** or Ventolin), one puff at a time, through a spacer*. Get the person to take 4 breaths from the spacer after each puff. |  | 3. Wait for 4 minutes. |  | 4. If there is little or no improvement, repeat Steps 2 and 3. |
If there is still little or no improvement, call an ambulance immediately (Dial 000).
Continue to repeat Steps 2 and 3 while waiting for the ambulance. *Use a blue puffer on its own if there is no spacer.
** not used with a spacer For more information call the Asthma Info line 1800 645 130or e-mail info@asthmaqld.org.au
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Living with Asthma 
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