<
21
Airedale
NHS Foundation Trust
Young Members’ newsletter
Autumn 2014 • No. 16
This month
we’re talking about…
Asthma is a condition that can cause a cough,
wheezing and breathlessness.
If you have asthma the small tubes that carry air in
and out of your lungs are inflamed and more sensitive
than normal.
Then when you come into contact with something
that irritates your lungs – a trigger – the airwaves get
narrow and the muscles tighten and that is when you
get the wheezing and breathlessness.
Common triggers of asthma
• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Cigarette smoke
• Animal fur
• Cold air.
Controlling your asthma
Go to your doctor at least once a year for a check up.
Is it an asthma attack?
You can tell if you’re having an asthma attack if:
• Your reliever inhaler isn’t helping
• Your symptoms are getting worse – cough
breathlessness, wheeze or tight chest
• You’re too breathless to speak, eat or sleep
• Your breathing may get faster and it feels like you
can’t get your breath in properly
• Children may complain of a tummy ache.
Often using the reliever inhaler will be enough to
relieve symptoms when you start having an attack
but sometimes symptoms are more severe and urgent
action is needed.
What to do if you’re having an asthma
attack
1.Take 1 or 2 puffs of your reliever inhaler (usually the
blue one) immediately
2.Sit down and try to take slow steady breaths
3.If you don’t feel better take 2 puffs of the reliever
inhaler every 2 minutes – 1 puff at a time – you can
take up to 10 puffs
4.If you don’t feel better or are worried call 999
5.If an ambulance doesn’t arrive within 10 minutes and
you’re still feeling unwell repeat step 3.
If you feel better and don’t need to call 999 you still
need to see a doctor or asthma nurse within 24 hours.
Preventing an asthma attack
Most people who have asthma attacks will have
warning signs for a few days before the attack.
These include having to use your blue reliever
inhaler more, changes in your peak flow readings and
increased symptoms like waking up in the night.
Don’t ignore these warning signs. If your symptoms
get worse make an urgent appointment to see your
doctor or nurse. Never be frightened of calling for help
in an emergency.
If you have a friend or relative with asthma
Asthma UK has a free asthma attack card www.asthma.
org.uk/Shop/asthma-attack-card that you can order
which helps you recognise an attack and tells you what
to do – this includes:
• Helping the person having the attack to sit up
comfortably
• Talking to them to calm them
• Helping them use their reliever
• Calling for help if they don’t feel better.
YOUR HOSPITAL
Here to care
Interested in a career
with the NHS?
If you’re interested in a career in the NHS check out
this website:
emergency clinic and to resuscitate or stabilise
patients.
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Callouts
To find out more about work experience at Airedale
Hospital go to our website www.airedale-trust.nhs.
uk/work-with-us/work-experience/
Paramedic
Check out the video to hear
from real life paramedics
Don’t forget
For the latest health news
and events you can now
follow us on Twitter
@AiredaleNHSFT
A paramedic is the senior healthcare professional
at an accident or medical emergency. Working
on their own or with an emergency care assistant
or ambulance technician they assess the patient’s
condition and give essential treatment.
They’ll administer oxygen and drugs and use
high-tech equipment such as defibrillators, spinal
and traction splints and intravenous drips as
needed.
The role
A paramedic is often one of the first health care
professionals on the scene of an accident or
emergency.
They are usually 1 of a 2 person ambulance
crew. Others will work on their own and use a
motorbike, emergency response car or even a bike
to reach their patients.
With extra training paramedics can become
members of an air ambulance crew.
When they arrive at a scene they assess the
patient’s condition and take potentially lifesaving
decisions about what treatment that person needs.
They are trained to drive what is really a mobile
Paramedics are called out to a range of incidents.
It could be someone who has fallen off some
scaffolding or an elderly person who has had a
stroke.
Based at a local ambulance station or large
hospital paramedics work shifts including evenings
and weekends, in all weathers, at all hours of the
day or night.
They work with doctors and nurses in A and E
departments, briefing them as the patient arrives at
hospital. They also deal with patients’ relatives and
members of the public some of which might be
hysterical or aggressive. They also often work with
the police and fire brigade.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for student paramedics vary
depending on the employer but usually the
paramedic science courses at university have a
minimum of 5 GCSEs (including English, Maths and
/or Science) plus at least 2 ‘A’ levels or equivalent.
You’ll also need a full manual driving licence
with the appropriate classifications for different
vehicles.
You need to contact each University directly to
see what their entrance requirements are.
Applying for jobs
You can look on NHS jobs for vacancies:
www.jobs.nhs.uk
YOUR HOSPITAL
Here to care