TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

ASTHMA

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways. These are the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.

It can affect people of any age.

According to Asthma UK, 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma (of these 1.1 million are children).

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

What happens during an attack?

During an asthma attack, something irritates the airways which causes the muscles around the airways to tighten. The airways then become narrower and start to swell as the lining becomes inflamed causing the symptoms of asthma, such as coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.

Mucus builds up in the airways which narrows them even more. This makes it more difficult to breathe.

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

Treatment for asthma

People with asthma generally have two types of medication:

Reliever: This inhaler is taken once asthma symptoms begin and acts quickly to relax the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways making it easier to breathe. Relievers should be carried with the person at all times.

Preventer: These inhalers must be taken every day. They calm down the inflammation and swelling in the airways, preventing the symptoms that may lead to an asthma attack.

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

How you can help

Asthma UK have issued guidelines for people who may be present when someone is having an asthma attack:● Ensure that they have taken their reliever medication, or help them

to do so.● Sit them down – they should not lie down.● Ensure that they loosen any tight clothing, or help them to do so.● Keep calm – do not panic.

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

What next?

If there is no immediate improvement in the symptoms:

Encourage the person to take one puff from their reliever inhaler every minute for five minutes, or until symptoms improve.

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

Emergency!

Dial 999 and ask for an ambulance if:● the symptoms do not improve after 5 minutes● the symptoms are getting worse● the person appears to be getting a blue tinge around the lips● the person is too breathless to speak, eat or sleep.

Continue to give one puff of reliever inhaler every minute until help arrives.

If in doubt, call an ambulance.

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

After an emergency attack

If someone needs to go to hospital as a result of an asthma attack, they should see their own doctor within 48 hours and again within 2 weeks to check that their symptoms are being adequately controlled and to review their asthma treatments.

TDA 2.2 Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

© Laser Learning Limited under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2010. Printing and photocopying permitted.

Activity

Find out if there is anyone at your setting who has asthma.

Check: ● what arrangements have been made for the management

of their condition● where their medications are kept● that medications are still “in date”.

Know what to do in the event of an asthma attack.