Flash-back Friday - know asthma terminology
If there's one thing I've learned over the past 10 years, it's to know asthma terminology.
It helps when I am at the ER to be able to say, "He's he asthma, his peak flow is usually 350 -but right now it's 200." Knowing your kid's peak flow gives them a concrete number, rather than just saying "he's having a hard time breathing".
We're also lucky enough to be able to use a friend's oxygen saturation monitor. So I can also say, "their oxygen level is reading at 89 on my sat monitor" (you should be be closer to 100).
We're also lucky enough to be able to use a friend's oxygen saturation monitor. So I can also say, "their oxygen level is reading at 89 on my sat monitor" (you should be be closer to 100).
They usually admit my kids to the hospital if their oxygen level is at 89 or lower.
I tell them not to bother looking for retraction, because my son suffers from air trapping and experiences the 'barrel chest'. Retraction is when they are trying so hard to breath that they use all their accessory muscles, usually sucking in the skin surrounding the chest when they breath.
I tell them not to bother looking for retraction, because my son suffers from air trapping and experiences the 'barrel chest'. Retraction is when they are trying so hard to breath that they use all their accessory muscles, usually sucking in the skin surrounding the chest when they breath.
You can usually see the skin suck in along the collar bone, and in the 'u' shaped bone at the base of the neck. You can also 'count the ribs' because the skin sucks in between each rib.
You should the name of the maintenance inhalers they're on and what doses (most people don't know the name - only the color.)
You should the name of the maintenance inhalers they're on and what doses (most people don't know the name - only the color.)
Also, know the names of your rescue/reliever inhalers
Let the ER know if you or your child is on oral steroids or have received a steroid injection.
I also always let them know how many time the kids have been admitted to the hospital before, so they know if I'm there, it's serious!
So, use any of that terminology- tell them peak flow readings, oxygen levels, retraction, maintenance inhalers and rescue inhalers.
I also always let them know how many time the kids have been admitted to the hospital before, so they know if I'm there, it's serious!
So, use any of that terminology- tell them peak flow readings, oxygen levels, retraction, maintenance inhalers and rescue inhalers.
I also tell them, "I know I'm in over my head, they need oxygen and solumedrol" (IV steroids).
Plus round-the-clock nursing care & respiratory therapists who get paid to stay up all night and monitor them.
Hopefully none of you have kids who end up being admitted to the hospital, but if you are in the triage area of the ER, be sure to use all the asthma terminology so they listen to you and get you in quickly!
Hopefully none of you have kids who end up being admitted to the hospital, but if you are in the triage area of the ER, be sure to use all the asthma terminology so they listen to you and get you in quickly!
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