An Asthma Action Plan is a written set of instructions prepared in partnership with your doctor to assist you to manage your asthma at different times. Your plan should help you to:

• Recognise worsening asthma symptoms
• Start treatment quickly
• Seek the right medical assistance

Early attention to worsening asthma may prevent you from having a serious attack. Ask your doctor for a written Asthma Action Plan. Your doctor may write one to suit your individual needs or use one of the many Asthma Action Plans available. The latest National Asthma Council Asthma Action Plan is available in PDF format and can be printed out by clicking on the link.

Why have a written Asthma Action Plan?

An Asthma Action Plan allows you and your doctor to create an individual plan for you to manage your asthma. An action plan advises you about what you must do to stay healthy, and what to do when your asthma is worsening and you need help.

An Asthma Action Plan outlines

• How to care for day-to-day asthma (it lists your normal medications and how many times each day you should take them).
• Key points to tell you when your asthma is getting worse or an "attack" is developing, and the steps you should take to manage it (for example, medications that should be increased or started so you can gain better control of your asthma).
• Symptoms that are serious enough to need urgent medical help (with information on what to do if you have an "attack").

It is important to identify the signs of worsening asthma and link them to steps you should take to help manage them and prevent further deterioration. Any deterioration responds best to rapid action.

Do children need an Asthma Action Plan?

It is just as important for parents to obtain a clear, succinct, written summary of their child's asthma management (an Asthma Action Plan). This will provide a source of reference to reinforce the advice given by the doctor.

This Asthma Action Plan is also an important tool for anyone caring for your child. It provides up-todate, detailed information (including your child's emergency First Aid Plan) to help manage your child's asthma. A second copy of the Action Plan should be sent to school, kindergarten, childcare centre, or to anyone caring for your child.