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• be your child's champion
• managing asthma attacks
• administering medicine
• avoiding triggers
• lifestyle changes
• tracking your progress

managing asthma attacks

Be prepared

This means having a written plan and understanding all its details.

• Work with your healthcare provider to create an Asthma Action Plan that provides clear instructions on what to do in case of an attack.
• Understand exactly what you are supposed to do when your child has an attack. Know when you should administer your child's rescue medication, and when to seek medical help.
• Practice with your child using their nebulizer (without medication) so that they are familiar with it. Panic may set in during an attack, and you want your child to feel comfortable with what they need to do.
• Talk with your child about how they should always find an adult when they begin to feel symptoms or, if they are alone, make sure they always have emergency contacts with them and know how to use them.
• Share your plan with all of your child's caregivers using a Caregiver Checklist. Let your child know that their caregivers know what to do in case of an attack.

In the moment

Many asthma attacks are minor and last only a few minutes. But those few minutes can be very scary. The first thing you'll want to remember is to stay calm. This will help your child stay calm too.

• Refer to your Asthma Action Plan. You should already be familiar with this, and it will tell you just what you need to do.
• Make sure you have the right medicine. You must use your child's rescue medicine as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Administering controller medicine during an attack will not help open your child's airways.
• Once your child has received a rescue medicine, help your child relax. You might sing a soothing song, or rub their back in slow rhythmic circles.
• Monitor your child's progress. If you feel it's appropriate, call your healthcare provider and take your child immediately to the emergency room.

Handling the aftermath

Here are a few things you should do after the attack has passed.

• Give your child a drink of water or juice. This will rinse out any bitter taste from the medicine.
• Talk with your child about what just happened in a way that your child can understand. Ask your child how they felt and if they have any questions. Ask them if they can remember how they felt before the attack. Talk about how you can do things better should another attack occur.
• If the attack happened at school or daycare, help your child with ways they can explain the attack to schoolmates so that they understand your child's condition.
• Stay positive. Praise your child for cooperating with you during the attack. Encourage them, if at all possible, to alert you earlier the next time, at the first signs of having trouble breathing.