How to Use an Inhaler
The purpose of a spacer is to keep the drug in the inhaler until you inhale it into the lungs. Remember that a spacer should only be used with an individual puffer that is only suitable for your inhaler. If the inhaler is used by children under the age of 3, they should use their own spacer in combination with a mask. Some children at the age of 3 and older may use their spacer, not using the mask.
The Purpose of a Spacer
If you use a spacer with your inhaler, then you can be sure that an appropriate amount of drug will get into your lungs during an inhalation. Using a puffer without a spacer does not guarantee that your lungs will get the right amount of the drug.
The spacer has the same function as a nebulizer, which processes a liquid asthma medicine and turns it into a shallow mist. It is cheaper, more accessible and easier to tolerate by patients. If the child is at home, then the nebulizer is not needed.
If you use a spacer, you may be sure, that the drug will not get stuck in your mouth and in your throat during inhalations. Thus, the risk of any side effects in the throat and mouth (hoarse voice, thrush, sore throat) is minimal.
Using a small size spacer with a mask
It is important, that all children under 3 years must use their spacer with a special mask and it is necessary to follow the instructions:
- Carefully remove the cover from the puffer;
- Take the puffer vertically and shake it well;
- Put the plunger mouthpiece on the edge of the spacer and put on the mask to the other end;
- The mask should be placed over your mouth and your nose so that it could cover them completely without any holes;
- Then you should push the puffer once and say your child to make four hard breaths.
You should observe that the valve makes some movements during the child’s breaths. The child’s breaths must be only through the mouth. It helps to the lungs to get an appropriate amount of the medication.
If one dose is not enough, so repeat the actions described above.
It is forbidden to press the inhaler more than once per one inhaling.
Using a small size spacer without a mask
Some children over 3 years old use a spacer, not using a mask. In this case it is necessary to follow the recommendations below:
- Carefully remove the cover from the puffer;
- Take the puffer vertically and shake it well;
- Put the plunger mouthpiece on the edge of the spacer;
- Put the spacer’s mouthpiece into the child’s mouth so that the lips were around the mouthpiece and covered it;
- Push the puffer and say to the child to make four hard breaths in and out, observing the movements of the valve during the breaths.
If one dose is not enough, so repeat the actions described above.
It is forbidden to press the inhaler more than once per one inhaling.
Looking after the spacer
While using a spacer, there may appear static electricity inside. That is why the medication can seep inside the device and the lungs will not get the right amount of the drug.
To prevent this, it is necessary to rinse the spacer after the purchase and then every month. To wash the spacer, you need to do the following steps:
- Disassemble the spacer into pieces;
- Put it in warm soapy water and rinse for a few minutes. You may use the dishwashing soap;
- Take the pieces out of the water and leave them to dry;
- Don’t wipe the pieces of the spacer, because it may cause an excessive static;
- Do not wash the soapy layer, as this soapy layer can prevent the creation of static inside the spacer.