Asthma Emergency: What to Do Right Now

An asthma attack can get worse fast. Know the signs, act quickly, and focus on breathing tools that work. This guide gives clear steps you can follow immediately and shares when to call for help.

First, recognize danger. Severe wheezing, extreme breathlessness, fast breathing, blue lips, difficulty speaking in full sentences, or drowsiness are red flags. If someone shows these signs, treat it as an emergency even if it happened before.

Use the reliever inhaler now. Shake the inhaler, give four separate puffs, one puff at a time, with slow deep breaths in after each puff. If available, use a spacer. Wait four minutes and repeat the four puffs if breathing is still hard. Emergency protocols often recommend repeating every four minutes up to a total of 10 puffs while getting help.

If the person has oral steroid tablets prescribed for emergency use, give them the dose advised by their doctor right away. Steroids take hours to reduce airway swelling, but they help prevent the attack coming back after the reliever works.

Call emergency services if there is no improvement after the first inhaler cycle, if breathing gets worse, if lips or face turn blue, or if the person becomes very drowsy or confused. Do not hesitate. Getting to emergency care quickly can prevent respiratory failure.

Keep the person calm and sitting upright. Panic makes breathing worse. Encourage slow, measured breaths. Loosen tight clothing and monitor breathing rate and color. If trained and necessary, start CPR if the person stops breathing or has no pulse.

After immediate care, follow up with a doctor even if symptoms improve. The doctor can check lung function, update the asthma action plan, and adjust long term medication like inhaled steroids or add a controller inhaler. Ask about proper inhaler technique and get a spacer if needed.

Prevention matters. Know triggers like smoke, pollen, cold air, exercise, and infections. Keep reliever inhalers within reach, have a written action plan, take daily preventer medication as prescribed, and get regular reviews, especially after an attack.

If you care for someone with severe asthma, learn to spot warning signs early and practice the emergency steps. Teach friends and family how to use the inhaler and where to find emergency medications. Simple preparation can save lives.

Want a quick checklist? Watch for red flags, give four puffs with spacer, repeat every four minutes if needed, give emergency steroids if prescribed, call emergency services when symptoms don’t improve. Keep calm and seek follow up care.

Medications and hospital care

Ambulance or emergency staff may give nebulised salbutamol, oxygen if oxygen levels are low, intravenous steroids, and sometimes magnesium sulfate for severe attacks. Adults and children may receive different doses, so let professionals decide. Bring a list of current medicines and inhalers to the hospital. If you use a nebuliser at home, tell staff when it was used and how the person responded.

Keep written emergency instructions with medications at all times. Stay prepared.