Reliever Inhalers for Asthma

Usually blue and only several inches in length, the small but powerful reliever inhaler can save the life of someone experiencing an asthma attack. In fact they are so important that is now legal for schools to buy / keep reliever inhalers in the event that a child is having an attack without their condition being diagnosed.

What Are You Looking For

Asthma sufferers can carry up to three different types of inhalers on them at any time, alongside spacer devices to assist with treatment. This could be incredibly confusing for any bystander who may be trying to help during the event of an emergency. Kept simple you are looking for the blue inhaler just like the below picture:

What Do They Do

Reliever inhalers contain bronchodilator medicines usually under the name of salbutamol or terbutaline. Bronchodilators help relax the muscles around the lungs and re open the airways when someone is having an attack.

When used correctly they can stop a full blown asthma attack from occurring. However they are not a long term answer to asthma problems. Anyone who has to use their reliever inhaler more than three times a week should seek further advice from their GP.

The Event Of An Attack

Asthma attacks are sometimes unavoidable regardless of what medication is on offer. Symptoms include breathlessness, bouts of coughing, tightness of chest, grey / blue skin and possible unconscious.

Apply this four step protocol when someone is having an attack:

1. Sit the casualty down (don't lie down as it is harder to breathe)
2. Take one puff of the reliever inhaler every 30-60 seconds (maximum of 10 puffs)
3. Call 999 for an ambulance if the medication is not working, or if the casualty deteriorates
4. Repeat step two if an ambulance has not arrived within 15 minutes

Reliever Inhalers in Schools

Studies have shown that an extremely high percentage of school children may not have access to an inhaler because it has been lost, damaged or run out of medicine. Historically schools have been frustrated that they could not keep a spare stock of inhalers in the event of an emergency.

Luckily in September 2014 new legislation enables schools to obtain Salbutamol inhalers without prescription under strict guidelines to ensure the measure is not misused. No doubt this has already saved lives and will continue to do so long into the future.