This document provides information on various breathing difficulties and allergies that may require first aid assistance, including: Asthma, which causes airway inflammation and narrowing, making breathing difficult. Signs of an asthma attack range from mild shortness of breath to severe symptoms including difficulty speaking and lips turning blue. The first aider should reassure the casualty, administer their reliever medication, and call an ambulance if no improvement. Allergic reactions can be mild to severe anaphylaxis. Adrenaline auto-injectors like EpiPens treat anaphylaxis. Signs of mild reactions include hives and swelling, while signs of anaphylaxis involve breathing difficulties. The first a

1. HLTAID003 – Provide First Aid
Slideshow 3
Breathing Difficulties and Allergies

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Asthma
Signs and symptoms (mild to moderate asthma
attack)
• Short of breath
• Dry, irritating, persistent cough
• Chest tightness
• Wheezing

5. 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

6. Video
• Please watch the video showing a severe
asthma attack.
• Warning this video may be distressing
• https://youtu.be/EK8nzKzdnIM

7. Asthma
Steps
• 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

8. 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.

9. Allergic Reactions and anaphylaxis
• 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.

10. Allergic Reactions and anaphylaxis
• 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.

11. Allergic Reactions and anaphylaxis
• 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.

12. Allergic Reactions and anaphylaxis
• 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)

13. Allergic Reactions and anaphylaxis
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

14. Allergic Reactions and 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

15. Allergic Reactions and anaphylaxis
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

16. 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.

17. Choking – Partial airway obstruction
Signs and Symptoms
• Difficulty breathing
• Noisy Breathing
• Some air movement from mouth or nose
when casualty breathes of coughs

18. 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

19. 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.

20. Choking – Complete airway
obstruction
Signs and Symptoms
• No sound of breathing
• No movement of air from mouth of nose

21. Choking – Complete airway
obstruction
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

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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.

29. 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

30. 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

31. Assessment Task
• Please proceed to the Assessment Task