To mark World Asthma Day (May 1st), the Asthma Society of Ireland had a one-stop shop for asthma at Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, 10am-4pm, where people can meet a respiratory nurse to get support on how to manage their asthma. For more information see asthma.ie. The society’s free advice line is tel 1800 44 54 64.
Asthma in Ireland: the numbers
- 1 person dies every week
- 1 child in every 5 diagnosed with asthma
- 6 in 10 of those children don’t take medication correctly
- 1 person attends a hospital emergency department for uncontrolled asthma every 26 minutes
- 10 days of school a year missed, on average, by children with asthma
- €533 million is the estimated annual economic cost of the illness
Under attack: symptoms of an asthma attack
- A severe cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness or any combination of these.
Five-step rule on how to deal with an attack
1. Take two puffs of reliever inhaler (usually blue) immediately.
2. Sit upright and stay calm.
3. Take slow steady breaths.
4. If there is no immediate improvement, take one puff of reliever inhaler every minute. (An adult can take up to 10 puffs in 10 minutes; children under six years can take up to six puffs in 10 minutes.)
5. Call 999 or 112 if symptoms do not improve after following steps 1 -4.
If an ambulance does not arrive within 10 minutes repeat Step 4.
For bystanders
DOs
- Do offer a spacer device (plastic cylinder) for use if one is available.
- Do listen to what the person having the asthma attack is saying; they have experienced attacks before.
DON’Ts
- Don’t put your arm around or lie down someone having an asthma attack, this will make it harder for them to breathe.
- Don’t worry about them using too much reliever; it is safe to take extra puffs of reliever during an asthma attack.
- Don’t leave the person having the attack on their own.
- Don’t take the person having the attack to the hospital in your own car unless absolutely necessary; another adult should accompany you.