Asthma attack in the workplace: How first aiders are trained to respond

According to research by the NHS, around 5.4 million people receive treatment for asthma each year and around 160,000 people are diagnosed with work-based or occupational adult-onset asthma each year. This workplace guidance blog features advice on what happens when someone has an asthma attack and the first aid steps you should take to help someone who is having an asthma attack.

How our training prepares first aiders to help someone with having an asthma attack in the workplace

Our course learners will discover how to recognise the signs of someone who may be having an asthma attack and the first aid steps to help someone who may be having an asthma attack, through learner led, hands-on practical exercises along with engaging video presentations.

As asthma is one of the most common medical conditions featured on our courses, the trainer may begin the session by asking the course learners for their own experiences to help put the topic in context. This would commonly be followed by an opportunity to undertake their own research using our free course resources such as the first aid manual. Every learner is provided with their own copy upon successful completion of the course. The trainer may also show a contextual video to reinforce the key learning messaging before offering the opportunity for learners to make their own notes in their course companion workbooks.

What happens when someone is having an asthma attack?

Asthma is a medical condition that affects the airways - the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When someone has an asthma attack, these tubes become narrowed, making it difficult to breathe in and out. If an adult is having an asthma attack, then it is likely that they will have lived with the condition for a long time and will have experienced an asthma attack before; they will be the expert in knowing what they need you to do to help them.

In what workplace situations or environments are people likely to have an asthma attack?

An asthma attack could be due to a variety of triggers but sometimes there is no obvious cause. It's vital for those working alongside people with asthma to know the signs and how they can help if an asthma attack occurs. Some common triggers for asthma attacks include:

• infections e.g. colds and flu
• allergies e.g. pollen, dust or animals
• smoke, fumes and pollution
• medicines
• emotions e.g. stress
• weather e.g. cold air, heat and humidity
• mould or damp
• exercise.

Occupational asthma may also be associated with substances that people may be exposed to at work. The most common causes of occupational asthma include:

• chemicals found in spray paint
• flour and grain dust
• substances found in solder fumes
• latex
• animals
• wood dust.

What to do if someone is having an asthma attack in the workplace

A person who is having an asthma attack may:

• be wheezing and have difficulty breathing
• be coughing and have difficulty speaking
• have greyish-blue lips, ear lobes and nail beds
• appear distressed and anxious.

People with asthma usually carry an inhaler to use during an attack. If you suspect someone is having an asthma attack at work, take the following steps:

1. 1. Help them to sit in a comfortable position and take their inhaler (1-2 puffs every 30-60 seconds up to 10 puffs).
   2. Stay with them and reassure them until they are completely recovered.

In many cases, the inhaler should improve a person’s breathing within a few minutes, but if you have concerns about an asthma attack, call 999 or get someone else to do it. The reasons to seek emergency medical assistance include: if the person does not have an inhaler, or the inhaler doesn't seem to be helping. As they are getting worse, the person will be finding it difficult to talk and becoming increasingly exhausted and this is when you need to call 999 for an ambulance.

How can you be prepared for someone having an asthma attack in the workplace?

By identifying the triggers that aggravate an employee’s asthma you can take steps to manage your work environment to prevent or reduce the employee’s contact with them. It is essential to regularly review and refine your first aid needs assessment, to ensure that you continue to meet your legal obligations and make your workplace as safe as possible.

Download our first aid needs assessment template, so you can equip your team with the tools, skills, and confidence to act in a first aid emergency.

The British Red Cross Training First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work Requalification courses feature training on how to help someone who is having an asthma attack.