First Aid for Asthma

• Sit the person comfortably upright. Be calm and reassuring. Don’t leave him or her alone.
• Administer four (4) puffs of a blue/grey reliever, e.g. Ventolin, Asmol or Airomir. Use a spacer, if available. Administer one (1) puff at a time with four (4) breaths after each puff. If possible, use the person’s own inhaler.
• Wait four (4) minutes. If the individual still cannot breathe normally, administer four (4) more puffs.
• If the individual still cannot breathe normally, IMMEDIATELY CALL AN AMBULANCE (DIAL 999). Notify the operator that someone is having an asthma attack.
• Keep administering the reliever. Administer four (4) puffs every four (4) minutes until the ambulance arrives.
  • For children: Administering four (4) puffs each time is a safe dose.
  • For adults: For a severe attack, you can administer up to six (6) to eight (8) puffs every four (4) minutes
OR


• Give two (2) separate doses of a Bricanyl or Symbicort inhaler. If a puffer is not available, you can use Symbicort (for individuals over the age of 12) or Bricanyl, even if the person does not normally use drugs.
  
• Wait four (4) minutes. If the person still cannot breathe normally, IMMEDIATELY administer one (1) more dose. If the person still cannot breathe normally, CALL AN AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY (DIAL 999). Notify the operator that someone is having an asthma attack.
• Keep giving reliever while waiting for the ambulance:
  • For Bricanyl: Administer one (1) dose every four (4) minutes.
  • For Symbicort: Administer one (1) dose every four (4) minutes (you can safely administer up to three (3) doses).