Asthma First Aid
Signs you are having an
ASTHMA ATTACK
- You have increasing wheezing, cough, chest tightness or shortness of breath.
- You are waking often at night with asthma symptoms
- You need to use your reliever again within 3 hours
If a person stays conscious and their main problem seems to be breathing, follow the asthma first aid steps. Asthma reliever medicine is unlikely to harm them even if they do not have asthma.
When is it an ASTHMA EMERGENCY?
- Your symptoms get worse very quickly
- You have severe shortness of breath, can’t speak comfortably or lips look blue
- You get little or no relief from your reliever inhaler
1. Call an ambulance immediately.
2. Dial 000
3. Say that this is an ASTHMA EMERGENCY
Downloadable first aid poster
Not sure if it’s asthma?
If a person stays conscious and their main problem seems to be breathing, follow the asthma first aid steps. Asthma reliever medicine is unlikely to harm them even if they do not have asthma.
Severe Allergic Reactions
What to do
Follow the person’s action plan for Anaphylaxis if available. If the person has known severe allergies and seems to be having a severe allergic reaction, use their adrenaline autoinjector (eg. EpiPen) before giving asthma reliever medicine.
If you are ever unsure about what you should do
CALL AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY (DIAL 000)
