My Child¹s Asthma the Peak Flow Meter


		treatments

		my asthma
		my medications
		my lifestyle
		my child's asthma

			warning signs
			tips for you and your family
			pediatric asthma stats
			when to go to school
			meds and action plan
			the peak flow meter

		my allergies
		my recent attack

the peak flow meter

A peak flow meter is a tool that measures how fast air moves out of your child’s lungs. During an asthma attack, the airways or breathing tubes tighten and become more narrow. The peak flow meter can be used to find out if your child’s airways are getting narrower; often times even before your child has any asthma symptoms. By taking asthma medicine early (before symptoms), you may be able to help prevent an asthma attack from occuring altogether.

a peak flow meter may help you:

Decide if your child is starting to have an asthma attack.
Learn what makes your child’s asthma worse.
Decide when to seek emergency care.
Decide if your child’s asthma attack has been brought under control.

how your child should use a peak flow meter

Move the marker to 0 or to the lowest point/position on the scale. Stand. If you can't stand, be sure to sit up straight. Make sure you're in the same position each time you test.
Take in as deep a breath as you can.
Put the mouthpiece of the peak flow meter in your mouth between you teeth. Close your lips tightly around it. Be sure your tongue does not block the opening. Blow into the mouthpiece once, as hard and as fast as you can.
Take the peak flow meter out of your mouth. Look at the marker. It will have moved along the numbered scale. Write this number down. Move the marker back to 0 or to the lowest point/position on the scale.
Repeat the test two more times.

the five main asthma symptoms are:

Coughing
Wheezing
Tightness in the chest
Shortness of breath
Mucus (phlegm or sputum) production

your child’s asthma peak flow zones
You can use your child’s peak flow readings to help tell what asthma zone he/she is in: green (his/her asthma is under control), yellow (caution), or red (stop—get help from a healthcare professional). If you keep track of what zone your child is in, you can tell when his or her asthma is getting out of control so you can do something about it.

Ask your child's healthcare professional to fill in your child's numbers for each zone.

My Personal Best Peak Flow Reading is ___________________ .

My GREEN Zone is above ________ . This range is 80% to 100% of my personal best reading.

CAUTION My YELLOW Zone is between _____ and _____ . This range is 50% to 80% of my personal best reading.

STOP My RED Zone is below ________ . This range is less than 50% of my personal best reading.

peak flow zones
Regardless of your child’s peak flow meter reading, SEEK MEDICAL HELP if he or she has asthma symptoms or signs that you or your healthcare professional have decided are serious.