{"id":1061,"date":"2021-02-03T15:47:03","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T20:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/?p=1061"},"modified":"2021-02-03T15:47:03","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T20:47:03","slug":"how-to-help-someone-having-an-asthma-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/specializedhealthandsafety.com\/how-to-help-someone-having-an-asthma-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Help Someone Having an Asthma Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"

The number of people with asthma has been steadily increasing since the 1980s\u2014today, nearly 1 in 13 people are diagnosed. Depending on the severity of the case, asthma can be a mild, occasional inconvenience or a daily struggle.<\/p>\n

Most cases are manageable with medication, but a flare-up of symptoms can cause an asthma attack, which can be deadly if the victim isn\u2019t properly treated. Whether it\u2019s a stranger or a friend, knowing how to react when someone is having an asthma attack is vital, especially if the victim doesn\u2019t have medication or an inhaler on their person.<\/p>\n

What Does an Asthma Attack Look Like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asthma creates an inflammation in the airways. When the symptoms are triggered, the combination of the narrowed passages and the increased production of mucus makes it difficult to breathe. Asthma triggers differ depending on the individual, but they\u2019re often airborne irritants, like smoke, pollen, mold, dust, or animal dander. Other common ones include cold air, respiratory infections, and certain food or drinks\u2014stress or exercise can even be a trigger for some.<\/p>\n

Like triggers, symptoms of an asthma attack look different from person to person. Look for difficulty breathing, sometimes accompanied by wheezing or coughing. The victim may express a tightness in their chest, and their skin may become blue-tinged with decreased oxygen flow.<\/p>\n

How to Help<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep yourself and the victim as calm as possible\u2014panic can further escalate the attack and make it even harder to breathe. If you know what caused the asthma attack or if the victim can identify it for you, move them away from the source of the trigger. Help them sit, keep them upright, and loosen any restrictive clothing to open their airways as much as possible.<\/p>\n

Inhalers provide fast relief during asthma attacks by delivering medicine directly to the lungs. If the victim has their inhaler with them, check the instructions on the side to make sure they\u2019re getting the amount of medicine they\u2019re prescribed. If you\u2019re in a public building, some first aid packs contain a blue rescue inhaler, which can be used if the victim doesn\u2019t have one of their own, but never use someone else\u2019s inhaler.<\/p>\n

No one plans to have an asthma attack, but it\u2019s possible to be caught unaware and without an inhaler; asthma can develop at any age, and the victim might not even know they have it until an attack is upon them. Sipping a hot, caffeinated drink has been shown to help open the airways<\/a> for a limited period of time, giving you enough time to seek professional medical attention, but coffee or tea shouldn\u2019t be used to replace proper treatment.<\/p>\n

When to Call 911<\/strong><\/p>\n

Be prepared to call 911 if the victim:<\/p>\n