SHARES
“When my daughter first had an asthma attack, we all panicked! My sister had asthma also when she was younger. But, I couldn’t remember what makes her better besides the inhaler!” Jen, 24, recalls an unpleasant experience in which she felt helpless and very scared.
Asthma can happen to everyone of us. It can be your older parent, your younger child, neighbours, and even you yourself. Therefore, learning how to deal with asthma with or without an inhaler is important.
Photo by Adams999 from Flickr
First Aid for Asthma Attack Without an Inhaler
1. Stay Calm and Get Help!
If someone around you or you yourself, has an asthma attack, always remain calm. In such a situation, being calm helps us gain better control of our breathing. Never leave the person alone but be with them and help to calm them down.
Meanwhile, call for help! Asthma can recur and you would want to see a doctor if this is your first asthma attack. If the person is getting agitated, unable to speak in full sentences, and breathing fast even at rest, chances are he/she is having moderate to severe asthma. Seek help from a healthcare provider immediately!
2. Remove Asthma Triggers
If the person has known triggers, remove the source as fast as possible. This can be your pet, blanket, cold air conditioning, cigarette smoke, dust etc. Otherwise, move the person away from the source. You may want to open the window to let fresh air in, if the weather is not too cold and not hay season.
3. Breathe…eeee.
Sit the person upright to help them breathe better. Never lie them down. Then, make sure to loosen tight clothing around the neck. Demonstrate and do deep breathing with the person. Breath in deeply through your nose, your tummy should rise together. Then, exhale slowly through your mouth, your tummy flatten as you do so.
4. Reassure
Make the person feel better by gently telling them that help is on the way and you’ll be here with him/her. They are in a very vulnerable state and a gentle touch can mean a lot to them.
Also, you may offer a cup of lukewarm water when they are breathing better. Dehydration can make the airway dry with less mucus. A dehydrated airway, when exposed to allergens and even cold air or drink, it more likely to overreact and get inflamed.
Often times, it is infection that causes the airway to become very sensitive and inflamed, too.
Another simple folk remedy is to give a cup of coffee. The caffeine can help dilate the airway a little bit but it is not very effective. Common to all folk medicine is a gesture of goodwill that can be very reassuring to a vulnerable person.
Knowing that someone is caring after us and things are going to turn out fine really pumps up all the good energies needed for recovery. Do, as you see fit in best interest of the person. But be careful and don’t overdo anything to cause harm.
5. Monitor The Person Until Well or When Help Arrives
Monitor closely on person’s breathing rate, heart rate, lip colour, and whether they are losing attention or not. Generally, if the asthma is improving, the person’s breathing slows down to normal, and he/she is able to speak in full sentences without finding themselves out of breath.
However, if the person is becoming less aware of the surrounding, very out of breath, very shallow and rapid pulse, and lips turning pale or even blue, you would want to find ways to get medical help faster! If the person collapsed and stop breathing, lie the person down and start doing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) until help arrives.
Photo from Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ
Conclusion
Asthma attack can happen to anyone around us including ourselves. Learning first aid for asthma is important for everyone to understand what is the best course of action in face of emergency. Remember, stay calm and get help!
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References:
1. Bass P. Tips to stop wheezing without an inhaler [Internet]. About, Inc. 2020. (Available from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-i-stop-wheezing-without-an-inhaler-201099; last updated on 2019 Nov 18; last accessed on 2020 Mar 19)
2. Learn first aid for someone who is having an asthma attack [Internet]. British Red Cross. 2020. (Available form: https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/learn-first-aid/asthma-attack; last accessed on 2020 Mar 19)
by Chang Xian
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