Asthma action plan

If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, one of the ways to help manage and treat your symptoms will be your asthma action plan.

Learn more about what an asthma action plan is, how to use it and when it might need updating.

Being diagnosed with asthma can be a worrying time.

You may have questions about what activities you can or cannot do, what medications you need and when and what to do if you have an asthma emergency.

An asthma action plan, designed by your GP or healthcare provider, will help answer many of these questions.

An asthma action plan provides specific details on what to do to prevent and treat asthma symptoms. Created to suit your specific needs, it also gives instructions on what to do during an emergency.¹

The 4 main sections of an asthma action plan are:

1. daily management of your asthma
2. what to do if your asthma starts to flare-up
3. what to do if your asthma flare-up is severe
4. what to do in an asthma emergency.²

Your GP will work with you to create an action plan to suit you and your needs, which will help to prevent symptoms and serious flare-ups.

Most importantly, your asthma action plan will be a guide for you and your loved ones in the event you have symptoms or an asthma flare-up, also known as an asthma attack.

“Asthma action plans are one of the most effective asthma management tools available,” says Associate Professor Debbie Rigby, Clinical Executive Lead at the National Asthma Council Australia.

Your asthma action plan should be easily accessible to you and those you live and work with.

It’s important to take it with you when you travel and provide a copy to anyone who might need to help you in an emergency.

Taking a photo of your asthma action plan and keeping it on your phone is an easy way to have it close by when you need it.

“It's a good idea to make copies to keep in your car, at work and at home,” says Rigby. “If you are the parent or carer of a child with asthma, you might like to get extra copies made of their asthma action plan so you can give one to their grandparents or regular carers. You should also give a copy to your child's school, pre-school and/or childcare facility.”

If your asthma symptoms change or you’re experiencing more frequent and/or severe symptoms, talk to your GP. They may need to update your action plan to ensure you are able to properly manage and treat your asthma.

That might include things like changing medication or how quickly you act if you experience a flare-up.

“The National Asthma Council Australia urges all Australians with asthma to check in with their GP to review their asthma action plan every year, make sure they are using their inhaler properly and make sure they know what to do during an asthma emergency,” says Rigby.

If you or someone you know is having asthma symptoms and you don’t have access to the asthma action plan, you can administer asthma first aid.

Asthma first aid involves treating asthma symptoms until you can get medical assistance.

You may need to perform asthma first aid if someone is experiencing asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, difficulty speaking or breathing, coughing and chest tightness.

To perform asthma first aid, follow these steps:³

• Sit the person comfortably upright in a chair or on the floor with their back against a wall.
• Speak clearly and calmly, and give the person 4 puffs of their blue/grey puffer, 4 breaths for each puff.
• Wait 4 minutes. Do not leave them alone.
• If symptoms get better, take the person to see a doctor.
• If symptoms do not improve, after 4 minutes, give 4 more puffs, 4 breaths per puff. Dial triple zero (000) and report the emergency.
• You can give 4 puffs every 4 minutes until an ambulance arrives.

Asthma Australia offers support and advice online or by phone on 1800 278 462. Their Asthma Action Plan has downloadable templates.

The National Asthma Council Australia provides information and support for those living with asthma. This includes their asthma first aid instructions.