3 provide first aid breathing difficulties and allergies (1)

HLTAID003 – Provide First AidSlideshow 3

Breathing Difficulties and Allergies

Asthma

• Asthma is a condition which affects the airways of the lungs. During asthma attack the casualty experiences difficulty breathing due to the inflammatory response of the body which causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. This inflammatory response is usually accompanied by an increase in thick mucus in the lungs.

Asthma

• Common causes or triggers of asthma attacks can include: pollen, house dust mites, animal fur, moulds, tobacco smoke and cold air.

• People who are affected by asthma use medications to prevent asthma attacks from happening as well as medication to relieve their symptoms if an attack does happen.

Asthma

Signs and symptoms (mild to moderate asthma attack)

• Short of breath

• Dry, irritating, persistent cough

• Chest tightness

• Wheezing

Asthma

Signs and symptoms (severe asthma attack)

• Severe difficulty breathing

• Difficulty speaking

• Symptoms getting rapidly worse

• Feeling frightened or panicked

• Lips turning blue

• Little or no improvement from reliever medications

• Loss of consciousness

Video

• Please watch the video showing a severe asthma attack.

• Warning this video may be distressing

• https://youtu.be/EK8nzKzdnIM

https://youtu.be/EK8nzKzdnIM

AsthmaSteps• Reassure casualty and sit them upright• Do not leave casualty• Give them 4 puff of reliever medication, preferably using a

spacer device– Have them take 4 breaths between each puff

• Wait 4 minutes• If there is no improvement give another 4 puffs of reliever

medication, with 4 breathes after each puff• If there is no improvement call ambulance immediately• Continue to give 4 puff of medication every 4 minutes until

ambulance arrives or condition improves• If unconscious follow Basic Life Support steps

Allergic Reactions and anaphylaxis

• What is an allergic reaction?

• It is when a person’s immunes system overreacts to a substance that should normally be harmless. The substance that causes the reaction is called an allergen. Allergens can be swallowed, inhaled absorbed by the skin or injected.


• Allergic reactions can be mild to moderate or severe. Allergic reactions can develop quickly from mild to severe, so it is important to closely monitor the casualty’s condition for worsening symptoms.

• Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction.


• Persons who have experienced mild to moderate allergic reactions have usually been prescribed antihistamines to relieve the symptoms and reaction. However, for a person who is experiencing anaphylaxis, adrenaline is the only suitable medication to treat the reaction.


• There are two adrenaline auto injector devices available for use in Australia and New Zealand: EpiPen® and Anapen® – junior versions of the EpiPen® and Anapen® are normally prescribed for children aged between 1 and years.


• Mild to Moderate Allergic Reactions – Signs and Symptoms

• Swelling of the face and lips

• Hives or welts on skin

• Itching

• Stomach pain, vomiting (these are signs of a severe allergic reaction to insect stings)


Steps to assist casualty

• Remove any visible sting if the reaction is caused by an insect sting

• Stay with the casualty

• Assist the casualty to take any prescribed medications

• Locate adrenaline auto injector (EpiPen® and Anapen®) if available

• Watch closely for any signs of anaphylaxis


Severe Allergic Reactions – Signs and Symptoms• Difficulty breathing• Noisy breathing• Swelling of tongue• Swelling or tightness of throat• Difficult talking• Wheezing or persistent cough• Persistent dizziness or collapse• Pale and floppy (young children)• Loss of consciousness


Steps to assist casualty• Lay casualty flat - do not make them walk or

stand (if breathing is difficult allow them to sit up)• Use adrenaline auto injector (EpiPen® and

Anapen®) if available• Call ambulance 000• If there is no improvement after 5 minutes, give

another dose of adrenaline if available• If the casualty stops breathing commence CPR

immediately

Choking Partial airway obstruction

• Choking is when a person’s airway is partially of completely block by a foreign body.

• Partial airway obstruction is when there is some air flow in and out and the casualty is able to cough effectively.

Choking – Partial airway obstruction

Signs and Symptoms

• Difficulty breathing

• Noisy Breathing

• Some air movement from mouth or nose when casualty breathes of coughs

Choking – Partial airway obstruction

Steps to assists the casualty

• Reassure casualty and try to keep them calm

• Encourage them to cough

• Call the ambulance of the obstruction cannot be cleared

Choking – Complete airway obstruction

• A complete airway obstruction is when there is no movement of air flow in and out of the lungs and the casualty is unable to cough effectively. If the casualty is conscious they will be trying to breathe and clear the obstruction by coughing. If the casualty is unconscious you may not know there is an obstruction in the airway until you try to clear the airway or give rescue breaths.


Signs and Symptoms

• No sound of breathing

• No movement of air from mouth of nose


Steps to assist the casualty• Call an ambulance immediately• If the casualty is conscious give up to 5 separate back blows

between the should blades (use the heel of your hand)• If obstruction does not clear give up to 5 separate chest

thrusts in the centre of the chest (use the heel of your hand)

• If the obstruction does not clear continue to give back blows and chest thrusts

• If the casualty is unconscious– Check and clear airway– Commence CPR

Croup

• What is croup? Croup is caused by an infection in the throat and windpipe which causes the airways to become inflamed and swollen making it harder to breathe. It usually affects children under the age of 5 years.

Croup

Signs and Symptoms

• High pitched noise when casualty breathes in

• Harsh barking cough

• Distressed and anxious

• Obvious difficulty breathing

• Obvious use of chest and neck muscles when breathing

• Blue tinge to lips or tongue

Croup

Steps to assist casualty

• Comfort child and keep them calm

• Keep them warm

• Prevent child from becoming dehydrate by giving them clear fluids to drink

• If symptoms worsen and if breathing difficulty is sever seek medical aid

Hyperventilation

• Cause by over breathing. When a person is breathing faster or deeper than they need o this can lower the level of carbon dioxide in the blood and cause hyperventilation.

Hyperventilation

Signs and Symptoms

• Rapid breaths and pulse

• Irregular deep sighing breaths

• Feeling dizzy or light headed

• Tingling or numbness of the fingers and toes

• Feeling anxious

• Spasms of hands and fingers

Hyperventilation

Steps to assist the casualty

• Encourage them to slow their breathing

• Reassure the casualty

• Monitor pulse and breathing

• If the casualty does not recover quickly seek medical aid

Drowning

• Drowning occurs when the casualty’s breathing has been restricted because their airway has been immersed in water or other liquids. This obviously interrupts the supply of oxygen to their brain.

• Early rescue, clearing their airway and providing CPR is extremely important to increase their chance of survival.

• Remember do not attempt a water rescue that is beyond your swimming ability and will put you in danger.

Drowning

Signs and Symptoms

• Casualty’s airway is immersed in water or liquid (airway is blocked)

• Coughing or breathing is difficult

• Vomiting

• No response to talk or touch

• Not breathing

Drowning

Steps to assist casualty• Remove casualty from water or liquid• Call ambulance• Follow Basic Life Support Steps (DRABCD)• Place casualty on side when checking airway and

breathing• Provide CPR if required• Give oxygen is available and safe to do so• Casualty should always seek medical aid after a

near drowning incident

Assessment Task

• Please proceed to the Assessment Task

Healthcare

3 provide first aid breathing difficulties and allergies (1)