How to Use an Inhaler With a Spacer and Mask

April 16, 2015
Administering a child's asthma medication is not as easy as you may think. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of Asthma found that only one caregiver out of the 169 observed did it correctly. Follow these steps to ensure your child is getting the dose he needs.
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Credit: Grace Huang

1. If your child's spacer has two pieces, put them together, after removing the spacer's cap.

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2. Shake the inhaler for five seconds to mix the medicine and ensure a reliable dose.

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3. Remove the inhaler's cap; insert the mouthpiece into the front end of the spacer.

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4. Place the spacer's mask over your child's face; if an older child isn't using a mask, put the spacer's mouthpiece directly in his mouth.

5. Press the mask firmly over his nose and mouth, ensuring a good seal. (If not using a mask, a kid's lips should seal around the spacer's mouthpiece.)

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6. Place one hand over the inhaler, ready to press down on the canister; use your other hand to hold the spacer's mask against your child's face.

7. Have your child exhale deeply before you release the medicine.

8. Push down on the inhaler canister one time with your index finger.

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9. Have your child take six deep, slow breaths in order to get all the medicine into his lungs.

10. Leave the mask on; wait 30 seconds before a second puff (the usual dose for a rescue inhaler).

Source: Marina Reznik, M.D, M.S, a physician at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, New York,

Originally published in the May 2015 issue of Parents magazine.

All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

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