05/05/2026
🫁Today is World Asthma Day, the perfect moment to share some understanding asthma, recognising the signs and what to do 👌
An asthma attack can come on quickly. Signs may include:
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing and coughing
• A tight chest, it may feel like a band is tightening around it
• Distress and anxiety
• Difficulty speaking, they may speak in short sentences and whisper
• Signs of hypoxia such as a grey-blue tinge to the lips, earlobes, and nailbeds
• Exhaustion, in the case of a severe attack.
For people with autism or learning differences, symptoms may also present as:
• Increased anxiety or agitation
• Withdrawal or reduced communication
• Changes in routine behaviour or emotional regulation
*Knowing the individual’s usual presentation is key*
🫁Asthma first aid - what to do if someone is having an asthma attack:
1. Provide reassurance and ask them to take their usual dose of their reliever inhaler (usually blue). Ask them to breathe slowly and deeply
(If they have a spacer available, ask them to use it with their inhaler. The inhaler is more effective with a spacer, especially when being used for young children)
2. Sit them down in a comfortable position
3. A mild attack will normally ease after a few minutes. If they don't improve within this time, it may be a severe attack. Ask them to take a puff of their inhaler every 30 to 60 seconds, until they have had 10 puffs. Help the casualty to use their inhaler if they need assistance
4. If the attack is severe, and they are getting worse, becoming exhausted, or if this is their first attack, call 999 or 112 for emergency help
5. Monitor their breathing and level of response. If the ambulance hasn't arrived within 10 minutes, repeat step three
• If they become unresponsive at any point, prepare to give CPR.
6. If their symptoms improve and you do not need to call 999, advise the patient to get an urgent same-day appointment to see their GP or asthma nurse.
If you are worried or unsure what to do or their symptoms do not improve or worsen, call 999 immediately. Never leave someone alone during an asthma attack 🧑🏻🤝🧑🏽
