Asthma - 4. Case Study

4. Case Study

Devon

Devon is a 5 year kindergarten student who has asthma. During recess, you notice Devon coughing, wheezing and unable to keep up with the other kids running around the playground. When you try to speak with him, he is short of breath and has difficulty finishing his sentences. You recently read the Asthma Emergency Action Plan for Devon on the staff room wall and you know his rescue inhaler is in his backpack located in the kindergarten classroom.
Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath are common symptoms of an asthma attack – True or False?
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True

False
How would you manage Devon's asthma?

(Select all that apply)
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Remain with the student and ask another individual to retrieve his medication from the office

Sit with Devon and remain calm

If symptoms worsen or do not improve, call 911

Contact parent(s)/guardian(s)

Ask Devon to place his head down between his knees while you wait for his rescue inhaler to arrive

Once his medication arrives, give Devon his rescue inhaler every 5 minutes until his breathing returns to normal and he is able to speak
- as per the Asthma Emergency Action Plan, the location of Devon’s medication is in the classroom
- there is no reason for Devon to place his head down; this position will not improve his breathing
- give the medication according to the label on the medication and/or as transcribed on the Asthma Emergency Action Plan
The medication arrived to you in a zipper lock plastic bag. There is a spacer and mask with the rescue inhaler.

Place the eight steps in the correct order:

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Press the puffer’s canister down to spray only one puff into the spacer

Have the child sit up straight

Insert the puffer in the hole at the back of the spacer

Ask the child to breathe in and out through their mouth 6 times

Have child rinse out their mouth with water

Remove the cap off the puffer. Shake puffer up and down

Put the mask over the child’s mouth and nose. Hold the mask on the child’s face with one hand, ensuring there are no gaps between their face and the mask. With the other hand, hold the spacer with your finger on the top of the puffer’s canister.

Repeat the steps more than once as indicated on the medication label and/or Asthma Action Plan

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Yasmeen

Yasmeen is in grade 6 and has asthma that she manages on her own. There is no action plan at school. She usually carries her medication in her school backpack.

During PE, Yasmeen is learning how to do yoga, using the gym mats. Her nose starts running, she starts coughing and is finding it hard to breath. She complains that her chest is hurting and says she needs to take her inhaler. You escort her to the classroom but she forgot her medication at home.
How would you help Yasmeen as she has no Asthma Action Plan?
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Quickly evaluate the situation to determine if you need to call 911; call or delegate someone to call the parent/guardian to bring the medication to school

Call 911
- She has not been evaluated to determine how severe her asthma attack is
You would call 911 if Yasmeen experiences severe distress such as being unable to speak, lips are blue, or trouble breathing
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True

False
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4. Case Study

Devon

Yasmeen

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