Page 98 - Participant Manual

Skill Sheet 5-1
Assisting with an Asthma Inhaler continued

6. Help the person to take the medication.

■ No spacer. Position the mouthpiece of the inhaler
according to the method the person uses. Some
people may close their lips tightly around the
mouthpiece of the inhaler. Others may hold the
mouthpiece an inch or two away from the mouth.
Have the person take a long, slow breath (about 3
to 5 seconds) while pressing down on the top of the
canister. Then have the person hold his or her breath
for a count of 10.

■ Spacer. Have the person close his or her lips tightly
around the spacer and push the button on the top
of the canister to release the medication into the
spacer. Have the person take a long, slow breath
(about 3 to 5 seconds), and then hold the breath
for a count of 10.

■ Spacer with mask. Position the mask over the
person’s nose and mouth. Have the person push
the button on the top of the canister to release the
medication into the spacer. Have the person breathe
in and out normally about 5 or 6 times.

7. Note the time. The person’s breathing should improve within 5 to 15 minutes. More than
one dose of medication may be needed to stop the asthma attack. The label will tell you
how long to wait between doses.

■ If the person’s breathing does not improve or the person becomes unresponsive,
call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency number.

Chapter 5 Sudden Illness | 90 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual © 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved. Chapter 5 Sudden Illness | 91 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual