Final answer:
To assist someone experiencing an asthma attack, encourage them to use quick-relief medication. Quick-relief medications can alleviate the symptoms of an asthma attack promptly, and inhalers or nebulizers are common delivery methods. B) Encourage the person to use quick-relief medication.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a person is having an asthma attack, you should B) Encourage the person to use quick-relief medication, such as an inhaler or a nebulizer if available. This is the most immediate and effective way to help alleviate their symptoms during an attack.
Asthma attacks involve symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and tightness in the chest. In severe cases where symptoms include blue lips, confusion, or drowsiness, immediate medical attention is necessary. Quick-relief medications, or bronchodilators, work by opening constricted airways to make breathing easier and should be administered at the first signs of an asthma attack. These medications often provide relief almost immediately. For severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis—a different medical condition—an epinephrine auto-injector might be used. However, epinephrine is not a treatment for a typical asthma attack.
In the case of young children or anyone struggling to use an inhaler, a nebulizer may be necessary to administer the medication. Corticosteroids and other long-term control medications are generally not used during an immediate asthma attack but for managing the condition over time. It is essential for asthma sufferers to avoid known triggers as a preventive measure and to have quick-relief medication readily available.