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Quick guide · 2 min read
Asthma Attack: What to Do
Sit them upright, get their own reliever inhaler (usually blue) into them: one to two puffs every 30 to 60 seconds, up to ten. No inhaler, no improvement after ten puffs, or getting worse: call 999 and keep going.
Spot it
- Wheezing, coughing, tight chest, struggling to breathe
- Too breathless to finish a sentence
- In a bad attack: blue-tinged lips, exhaustion, or the wheeze going quiet, which is worse, not better
What to do
- 1
Sit them upright and keep them calm.
Upright, slightly forward. Not lying down. Panic tightens airways further, so your calm matters.
- 2
Their own reliever inhaler, usually blue.
One or two puffs every 30 to 60 seconds, up to ten puffs. Use a spacer if there is one: it gets far more of the dose into the lungs.
- 3
Call 999 if it is not working.
No inhaler available, no improvement after ten puffs, they are getting worse, or you are worried: ambulance. This is a life-threatening emergency.
- 4
Repeat the puffs while you wait.
If the ambulance has not arrived after ten minutes and the attack continues, repeat the ten-puff cycle. If they stop responding, start your primary survey and be ready for CPR.
Do
- Sit them upright, never flat
- Use a spacer with the inhaler if available
- Stay with them and keep them talking
Don't
- Do not take them outside into cold air, it can tighten airways
- Do not assume a quiet wheeze means recovery
- Do not delay 999 hoping it passes
Common questions
How many puffs of the blue inhaler in an asthma attack?
One to two puffs every 30 to 60 seconds, up to ten puffs, ideally through a spacer. If there is no improvement after ten puffs, or they worsen at any point, call 999 and repeat the cycle after ten minutes if the ambulance has not arrived.
What if they don't have their inhaler with them?
Call 999 straight away, sit them upright, keep them calm and monitor their breathing until help arrives.
Related skills
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