Health

Emergency Asthma Management

All severe or life-threatening asthma attacks require urgent medical attention.

Always dial triple zero (000) to call an ambulance in a medical emergency, then:

1. Sit the person upright and reassure them. Do not leave them alone.
2. Give one puff of the blue reliever medication. Take 4 breaths in and out. Use the puffer on its own if no spacer is available.
3. Repeat 3 times, so that you have given a total of 4 puffs.
4. Wait 4 minutes.
5. Keep giving the blue reliever medication one puff at a time until the ambulance arrives.

Where to get help

• See your doctor
• Ring healthdirect on 1800 022 222
• You can take advantage of Asthma WA's free Asthma and COPD Telehealth service (external site) for education and support. This service is provided across metropolitan and regional Western Australia. For more information phone 1800 278 462 and ask for this service.

Judy Buckley

College Nurse

Acknowledgements

Child and Adolescent Health Service – Community Health (CAHS