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Asthma - Online First Aid Guide
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First Aid Online Guide
Welcome
to our online First Aid Guide which is designed to be used as a
reference only. This guide is not a replacement for First Aid Training and
should be used to refresh your skills only.REMEMBER IN AN
EMERGENCY
DIAL 112 OR 999
Legal Requirements For First Aid In The Workplace
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2007 and the Health &
Safety Authority states that there is a mandatory legal requirement
for Occupational First Aiders and the contents of First Aid
equipment in the workplace.
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Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma
in the world. Over 300 Australians die from asthma each year,
and many of these deaths may be preventable.
Asthma sufferers have very sensitive airways, and when they are
exposed to certain triggers, their airways narrow making it
difficult for them to breathe.
An asthma attack can take anything from a few minutes to a few
days to developThere are three main
factors that cause airways to become narrow:
- The inside lining of the airways becomes red and swollen
(inflamed)
- The muscle around the airways constrict (tighten)
- Extra mucus may be produced
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Trigger factors for asthma may
include:
- Colds and flu
- Exposure to known allergens, eg dust mite,
pollens, animal dander, moulds
- Exposure to chemicals or other occupational
sensitises
- Exposure to irritants eg cigarette smoke,
perfume
- Reflux
- Drugs eg aspirin and beta-blockers
- Foods eg nuts, seafood
- Food additives – colourings, monosodium
glutamate (msg)
- Changes in weather, exposure to cool air
- Exercise
- Emotion
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Asthma is usually considered in three classifications
of severity.
- pale, cool, clammy skin
- coughing, especially at night
- shortness of breath – using all the chest and
diaphragm muscles to breathe
- ‘sucking in’ of the throat and rib muscles
- Severe chest tightness
- wheezing – a high pitched raspy sound
- cyanosis around the lips (bluish colour)
- anxiety and distress
- exhaustion
- rapid, weak pulse
- little or no improvement after using reliever
medication (Airomir, Asmol, Bricanyl, Epaq or
Ventolin)
- severe asthma attack: collapse – leading to
eventual respiratory arrest
- sit the casualty comfortably upright
- be calm and reassuring
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Classifications of Asthma Severity
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Severity
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Mild
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Moderate
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Severe & Life-threatening
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Symptoms
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Physical exhaustion
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No
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No
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Yes
May have paradoxical chest wall movement
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Talks in
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Sentences
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Phrases
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Words
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Pulse rate
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<100/min
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<100-120/min
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>120/min
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Central cyanosis
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Absent
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May be present
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Likely ot be present
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Wheeze intensity
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Variable
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Moderate - Loud
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Often quiet
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With spacer
- shake inhaler and insert mouthpiece into spacer
- place spacer mouthpiece in casualty’s mouth and
give 4 separate puffs of a blue/grey reliever puffer
- give 1 puff at a time
- ask the casualty to breathe in and out normally
4 times after each puff
- wait 4 minutes. If there is little or no
improvement, repeat the above sequence
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Without spacer
- shake inhaler
- place mouthpiece in casualty’s mouth. Fire 1 puff as the
person inhales slowly and steadily
- ask the casualty to hold that breath for 4 seconds, then
take 4 normal breaths
- repeat until 4 puffs have been given
- wait 4 minutes. If there is little or no improvement,
repeat the above sequence
- if still no improvement:
- dial ‘999’ for an ambulance
- continuously repeat reliever medication every 4 minutes
until the ambulance arrives
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Collapsed Casualty
- call ‘000’ for an ambulance
- if possible, assist with 4 puffs of a reliever
- if little or no immediate improvement
- repeat reliever medication every 4 minutes
until the ambulance arrives
- be calm and reassuring
- if in respiratory arrest give rescue breaths
- if in cardiac arrest – cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)
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CREDIT CARDS & LASER
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