Trowbridge

Amateur Swimming Club

GUIDELINES

SWIMMERS WITH ASTHMA

The following guidelines are recommended by the Amateur Swimming Association and coaches, teachers and lifeguards will refer to these regarding the training or competitive swimming of any swimmers at Trowbridge Amateur Swimming Club.

• There are two types of medication to treat asthma – relievers and preventers.

• Relievers are colour coded blue eg salbutamol ventolin and work to open up the airways. These are used after symptoms appear but also give brief protection against triggers such as exercise before they appear.

• It is important NOT to exceed the maximum does of 2 puffs four times daily.

• preventers if taken regularly can prevent an asthma attack occurring and are colour coded brown or white.

• They SHOULD NOT be used for treating an acute attack as they do not bring immediate relief.

When should the swimmer take their inhaler relative to training or an event?

• The relief inhaler should be taken if necessary between 15 and 30 minutes BEFORE training or competing to allow maximum time to work properly. One or two puffs is particularly useful in those swimmers who suffer from exercise induced asthma.

• The swimmer SHOULD NOT keep getting in and out of the water during a training session for a quick puff of their inhaler and coaches, teachers and lifeguards will actively discourage this. 

• The swimmer will be asked to leave the water if the coach, teacher or lifeguard is concerned regarding their use of medication.

In the event of an asthmatic attack during training –

• The swimmer concerned should immediately leave the water, with help from lifeguards if necessary, and given one to two puffs of their usual rescue inhaler.

• If there is no response after 10 minutes this can be repeated. Be ready to seek medical help if the swimmer remains distressed.

NB Once asthma has been diagnosed it is mandatory that the swimmer or their parents/coach declare this to the ASA together with details of medication they are taking. This is essential to avoid falling foul of Doping Control. Forms can be obtained from the Club’s Membership Secretary or Welfare Officer.