First aid procedure for an asthma patient having an attack.
Even if you are not asthmatic yourself, who knows you may have an asthma patient near you, in your house, on the road or at your workplace? If you are aware of the first aid steps required for an asthma patient, it may prove very beneficial for someone some day and perhaps save his life.
Knowing the following basic first aid steps will sure help an asthma patient in case he has an attack:
1) Make the person sit upright in a comfortable position. Speak calmly and be reassuring.
2) Use the person’s own inhaler if possible. If not, use the first aid kit inhaler or borrow from someone else. Give 4 puffs of a reliever inhaler (puffer) – Ventolin, Airomir, Bricanyl, or Asmol.
3) Relievers are best given through a spacer, if available. Use 1 puff at a time and ask the person to take 4 breaths from the spacer after each puff. Wait for 4 minutes. If there is no improvement, give 4 more puffs.
If you still find little or no improvement, call the ambulance immediately. Keep giving 4 puffs every 4 minutes until the ambulance arrives. For children, 4 puffs each time is a safe dose. For adults, 6-8 puffs every 5 minutes may be given for a severe attack while waiting for the ambulance.
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