Guidelines for the Use of Asthma First Aid Kits at UWA

1. Availability of Asthma First Aid Kits

Athma First Aid Kits are available at the following locations at UWA:

• Medical Centre (2^nd Floor, Guild Village) - contact Judith Hicks 6488 2118
• Parking & Security - contact Graham Morrison 6488 3020
• Sport Science, Exercise and Health - contact Ron Kelly 6488 1865
• UWA Sports Centre - contact Adrian Fisher 6488 3768
• Visitors Centre - contact Terry Larder 6488 2447
• University Field Station, Shenton Park - contact Mike Blair 9387 3384 or 0419 930 407
• McGillvray Oval, Shenton Park - contact Chris Marsh (W)9383 7179 or 0417 914 255 or (H)9387 4557

2. Contents of Kits

Each Asthma First Aid Kit contains

• a blue reliever (ventolin)
• a spacer ie a chamber designed to hold the spray
• set of instructions for use

3. Responsibilities

In assessing situations where the use of an asthma first aid kit is appropriate the following must be taken into account:

• Asthma kits are to be kept under the supervision and care of a trained First Aid Officer
• The asthma kits are to be used ONLY on persons with breathing difficulties who request that the kit be made available
• It is recommended that all persons requiring the Asthma First Aid Kits be advised to seek medical attention. For severe attacks assistance with obtaining urgent medical attention, which may involve Ambulance Services is required.
• The kit must be regularly maintained

4. How to Assess an Asthma Attack

Mild Attack

• Cough
• Soft wheeze
• minor difficulty breathing
• No difficulty speaking in sentences

Moderate Attack

• Persistent cough
• Loud wheeze
• Obvious difficulty breathing
• Able to speak in short sentences only

Severe Attack

• Very distressed and anxious
• Gasping for breath
• Unable to speak more than a few words in one breath
• Pale and sweaty
• May have blue lips

5. How to Use the Asthma First Aid Kit

1. Seat the asthmatic upright, remain calm and provide reassurance. Do not leave the asthmatic unattended.
2. Remove cap from the blue reliever puffer
3. Hold puffer upright and shake it
4. Push the two halves of the spacer together until they click, making sure the arrows are lined up
5. Attach the puffer mouthpiece to the end of the spacer
6. Place spacer mouthpiece in the asthmatics mouth
7. Press down on the puffer to release one puff into the spacer and ask the asthmatic to breathe in and out through the spacer for 4 breaths. Repeat 3 more times until a total of 4 puffs have been given
8. Remove puffer from spacer and replace cap

No harm is likely to result from giving a blue reliever puffer to someone without asthma.

6. What to Do Next

• Record medication given
• Assist with notifying family, friends etc as required
• If the spacer has been used, separate the halves, wash them in warm soapy water. Do not rinse. Allow them to dry naturally. and leave them to drip-dry. Volumatic spacers are NOT dishwasher safe.
• If the puffer has been used, without the spacer, the puffer needs to be washed

7. Maintenance of Kits

It is important that the asthma first aid kits should be checked and cleaned regularly. The blue reliever must be within the use-by-date.

Check the valve in the mouthpiece is working - as you gently shake the spacer, the valve should rattle. If its doesn't rattle, it may need cleaning or replacing.

8. Further Information

Please see Asthma Foundation at: http://www.asthmawa.org.au