MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA ATTACK

Asthma is a condition  that  causes breathing difficulty because of sudden or progressive narrowing of the airways caused by spasms in the muscles  of the bronchial walls ,swelling and inflammation of the lining of the airways , and excessive production of mucus

The following steps should be taken when managing asthma attack :

1) Sit the patient down  and remain calm to assure him/her .Do not leave the patient alone

2) Shake the blue reliever puffer (names include :Ventolin , Airomir  , Asmol  or Epaq ) and give four separate puffs through a spacer (spacer technique –one puff /take four breathes from spacer ,repeat until four puffs have been given )

3) Wait four minutes , if there is no improvement  give another four separate puffs ,as per the last step

4) Wait four minutes , if there is no improvement call an ambulance

5)Continuously repeat steps 2 and 3 while waiting for an ambulance

6)Check breathing ,if breathing stops  then commence Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

CHECKING FOR BREATHING

1)Place your cheek alongside the casualty’s mouth

2)Feel  and listen for breath

3)Look along the chest to see whether it is rising and falling ,if not commence Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation immediately

RESCUE BREATHING AND CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION

 1)Position the casualty on his back  

2)Kneel beside  the casualty

3)Place one hand  on the casualty’s forehead

4)Tilt the casualty’s head back

5) Pinch the casualty’s nostrils with your fingers or close of the nostrils with your cheek

6)Place your mouth firmly over the casualty’s mouth ,making an airtight seal

7)Breathe into the casualty’s mouth to give two rescue breaths

8) If there are still no signs of life ,begin chest compression

CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION   FOR ADULTS

1) Visualize the centre of the chest .Place your interlocking hands on the breastbone , keep your arms straight.

2) Lean forward so that you compress the breastbone about   1/3 of the depth of the chest

3 )Release the pressure ,then repeat

4) Continue 30 times

5) Pause after each 30 compressions to give two rescue breaths performing a ratio of   30 compressions to two breaths at a rate  of 100 compressions per minute

6) Continue with chest compressions until signs of life  are  obvious .

CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION FOR SMALL CHIDREN (under 8 years but over 12 months )

1) Apply  slight ,not full head tilt

2 )Locate the lower half of the breastbone

3) Apply compressions with  the heel of one hand placed over the lower half of the breastbone

4) Depress the breastbone 2,5cm

5) Keep the same ratios as for adults

6) Cover the child’s nose and mouth if required  with your mouth and breathe with less force ,as children’s lungs are smaller

CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION  FOR INFANTS  (BELOW 12 MONTHS )

1)      Do not apply head tilt for infants .The head remains horizontal

2)      Apply compressions with the tips of your index and middle fingers over the lower  half of the breastbone

3)      Compress to a depth of 1,5 cm using two fingers

4)       Rates of ventilation and compression are the same as for the children