- Reassure the casualty and ask them to take their usual dose of their reliever inhaler (usually blue). Ask them to breathe slowly and deeply.
- If they have a spacer available, ask them to use it with their inhaler. The inhaler is more effective with a spacer, especially when being used for young children. ERC guidelines recognise that people with asthma may be severely incapacitated, therefore the first aider may need to help them sit upright and assist them with their
medication/ inhaler.
- If they have no inhaler, call 999 or 112 for emergency help.
- Sit them down in a comfortable position.
- A mild attack will normally ease after a few minutes. However, if they don’t improve within a few minutes, it may be a severe attack. Ask them to take a puff every 30 to 60 seconds, until
they have had 10 puffs. Help the casualty to use their inhaler if they need assistance.
- If the attack is severe, and they are getting worse, becoming exhausted, or if this is their first attack, call 999 or 112 for emergency help.
- Monitor their breathing and level of response. If the ambulance hasn't arrived within 15 minutes, repeat step three.
- If they become unresponsive at any point, prepare to give CPR.
- If their symptoms improve and you do not need to call 999, advise the patient to get an urgent same-day appointment to see their GP or asthma nurse.
Important: This asthma attack information is not for patients on a Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) plan. This may
include a steroid-preventer medicine and a certain type of long-acting bronchodilator medicine which can also be used as their emergency reliever. The patient will know which they should use in
an emergency and may carry a written plan.
More info at: Asthma UK
Drowning is when someone has difficulty breathing because their nose and mouth are submerged in a liquid.