Have you thought about having a Personalised Asthma Action Plan for your child with asthma? It is one of the best things you can do to look after your child's asthma. Having an up to date plan means your child is far less likely to have asthma symptoms or an asthma attack. Research shows children without a PAAP are four times more likely to end up in hospital than those with one.
A Personalised Asthma Action Plan contains information about your child's asthma on triggers, how and when to take the preventers and relievers, how to spot asthma worsening, indicators that their asthma may be becoming unstable and a clear action plan in the case of an asthma attack. There is a proforma Child Asthma Action Plan for download at the Asthma UK website. It is UK based so would need adapting for Belgium but it provides a baseline and can be found at:
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/child/manage/action-plan/
Sharing your child’s action plan with friends, family, school and after school clubs means everyone who needs to know how to look after your child’s asthma has an easy way to do it – and you get peace of mind.
Top Tips to Keep Your Child Safe
Finally, understand the early warning signs your child could be more likely to have an asthma attack, as spotting these signs could help avoid it.
Spotting the Signs of an Asthma Attack
Asthma nurses report the following warning signs could indicate that someone’s asthma is becoming unstable:
Life First provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. Life First is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.
A Personalised Asthma Action Plan contains information about your child's asthma on triggers, how and when to take the preventers and relievers, how to spot asthma worsening, indicators that their asthma may be becoming unstable and a clear action plan in the case of an asthma attack. There is a proforma Child Asthma Action Plan for download at the Asthma UK website. It is UK based so would need adapting for Belgium but it provides a baseline and can be found at:
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/child/manage/action-plan/
Sharing your child’s action plan with friends, family, school and after school clubs means everyone who needs to know how to look after your child’s asthma has an easy way to do it – and you get peace of mind.
Top Tips to Keep Your Child Safe
- Help your child to establish and keep a regular routine using their preventer inhalers
- Ensure your child is competent at using their own inhalers properly, using spacers if appropriate
- Help your child prepare a Personalised Asthma Action Plan (PAAP) with their asthma nurse or GP
- If your child has a PAAP share a copy with the school and at any activity clubs your child attends
- Store a copy of it on your phone so you can share it with any caregivers, friends or family who may look after your child
- Provide the school with a spare inhaler so your child can receive their medication even if they forget their own
Finally, understand the early warning signs your child could be more likely to have an asthma attack, as spotting these signs could help avoid it.
Spotting the Signs of an Asthma Attack
Asthma nurses report the following warning signs could indicate that someone’s asthma is becoming unstable:
- using the reliever inhaler three or more times a week,
- Finding the reliever inhaler is not controlling symptoms for more than 4 hours
- coughing or wheezing at night or in the morning,
- breathlessness when talking
- struggling to keep up with friends, because of breathlessness
- developing a cold or being exposed to flu like symptoms
Life First provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. Life First is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.
