How should you assist someone during an asthma attack?

Assisting someone during an asthma attack primarily involves helping them manage their condition effectively. Using an inhaler, as directed, is a critical step in alleviating the symptoms of an asthma attack. Inhalers are designed to deliver medication directly to the lungs, opening the airways and making it easier for the person to breathe. During an attack, time is of the essence, and helping them use their inhaler swiftly and correctly can significantly improve their situation.

Encouraging a person to lie down, offering food, or performing abdominal thrusts are not appropriate responses to an asthma attack. Lying down may make breathing more difficult, especially if the person is feeling panicked. Offering food can pose a choking hazard and is not a remedy for asthma symptoms. Performing abdominal thrusts is meant for choking emergencies and could escalate the person's distress instead of alleviating it. Therefore, assisting with the inhaler is the most immediate and effective way to help someone during an asthma attack.