Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with asthma attack, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person with asthma is wheezing, coughing, and struggling to breathe. Their usual inhaler is not enough.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112 if bad. Sit upright. Give inhaler puffs. Keep watching.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — High-pitched wheeze or silent chest — very little air moving.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cannot speak more than a few words between breaths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sucking in skin between ribs or at throat (retractions).
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blue lips, confusion, or exhaustion — attack may be about to stop breathing.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Asthma narrows the airways. Muscles tighten and swelling blocks airflow. A reliever inhaler opens airways temporarily.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A severe attack can become life-threatening within minutes if airways close completely.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ask: "Where is your inhaler?" Help them sit upright immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Move away from triggers — smoke, dust, cold wind.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shake inhaler. If spacer available, attach it. One puff, slow deep breath in, hold 10 seconds if possible.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wait 30–60 seconds between puffs. Up to 10 puffs total while waiting for ambulance if attack is severe.
When and how to get professional help.
Call immediately if no improvement after inhaler, cannot speak, or lips turn blue.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help with prescribed inhaler and positioning. Do not give someone else's medicine or oral steroids unless they are their own prescribed supply.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Asthma attack. Inhaler not working / lips blue / cannot speak." Give age and location.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell dispatch how many inhaler puffs were given and whether breathing is improving or worsening.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT lay them flat — upright helps breathing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give sedatives, alcohol, or unprescribed medicines.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume the attack is over if wheezing stops suddenly — silence can mean airways are shutting.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Asthma attacks are always mild and pass on their own
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Asthma kills. Call 112 when usual inhaler is not enough or the person cannot speak.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Smoke inhalation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was in a fire, burning building, or heavy smoke and now has cough, hoarseness, or difficulty breathing.
Epiglottitis
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden severe sore throat with fever, drooling, muffled voice, and difficulty swallowing — often in older children or adults.
Hard to breathe
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is breathing fast, shallow, or with great effort. They may feel they cannot get enough air.
Strangulation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was choked by hand, rope, cord, or fabric around the neck. They may be unconscious or have voice changes and bruising.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 if no improvement after several puffs or any danger signs above.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Opens narrowed airways during asthma attack
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 immediately if no inhaler available — do not substitute random medicines
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Helps more medicine reach lungs from inhaler
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Use inhaler without spacer if spacer unavailable — still give puffs
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Severe asthma attacks need nebulizers, oxygen, and steroids — only emergency care provides these quickly.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Silent chest with no wheeze and extreme exhaustion means the attack is critical — ambulance cannot wait.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Waiting until the person collapses from lack of oxygen.