Asthma

Asthma attacks cause the muscles of the air passages to go into spasm which makes it extremely difficult for suffers to breathe. The attacks may occur because of an allergy, stress or being involved in an accident.

This condition is increasingly growing especially in the UK, where 4 people a day die from it. Therefore, it is extremely important that you know what to do when someone has an asthma attack.

The following procedures should be carried out when someone has an asthma attack:

• Firstly, reassure the individual by just placing a hand on their back for support, as this will make them feel calm and have a positive effect on their breathing
• Help the individual into a sitting position leaning slightly forwards as most asthma suffers find this position easier for breathing in
• Ask the individual if they have medication and enable them to use it
• Inhalers are the main form of medication for asthma suffers and they are normally blue in colour
• If the medication does not to work within the first 5 minutes or the individual is in severe pain then call for an ambulance
• Help the individual to take their medication every 5 to 10 minutes
• If the attack eases then the individual should not need immediate medical attention but should advise a doctor.
• An individual who has an asthma attack will be very tired after it so you should take them to rest somewhere