Treating Asthma Attacks
November 21, 2011 health No Comments
One of the most unexpected conditions that can happen are asthma attacks and it happens suddenly without warning. It is a scary moment for both the persoon suffering from it and the ones that are watching. It usually happens when a person with an asthma comes in contact with a trigger to his condition like an allergen, exercise or even as simple as cold air. Most of the time, the person will start having difficulty in breathing and you will see that he/she will have wheezing or coughing fit that is intense. Quick treatment is needed and you should know how.
First, recognize that you see that symptoms. If a child is the one experiencing the problem, he/she might not be able to verbalize that he is suffering from it like an adult would. Wheezing or having a bad coughing fit that he can’t stop is the first sign. If you don’t treat it, lips and fingernails of the person will start to turn blue or gray. Always stay calm. The person who is having the attack would panic if the bystander panics as well which will worsen the asthma attack. Reassuring the person that she will be ok is something you should do.
Next, remove the allergen. If you know what triggered the attack, remove it immediately. Durst, mold, pet dander or pollen are the most common ones but there are still others that can trigger the attack. Get the person’s rescue inhaler and adminiter it to him. Ask the person if they have it like an albuterol. Follow what instructions were provided on the prescription. If the one experiencing the attack is a child, make sure you have a spacer when administering the rescue inhaler. Parents with children that have asthma would usually have a spacer stored with the rescue inhaler.
Give the person a caffeinated drink in case the person does not have a rescue inhaler. Caffeine helps ease symptoms of asthma attack. Call for medical assistance right away after your first aid. It would take at least 10 minutes for a rescue inhaler to work. If the person is already turning blue or is still continuing to be in distress, calling emergency medical assistance is the best thing to do. Make sure your location is obvious. Throw open the front dooor or turn on all the lights to make it easier for a medical personnel to find you once you have called the ambulance.