Asthma action plans
A written asthma action plan helps you recognise when your asthma is getting worse and what to do about it.
Asthma action plans help with:
- Better control asthma
- Fewer asthma attacks and hospital visits
- Fewer days off work or school
- Reduced reliever medication use.
Developing an asthma action plan with your doctor is important and should include a talk about your own circumstances including you asthma patterns and triggers, and current management.
Written asthma action plans are one of the most effective asthma management tools available. If you or someone you are responsible for has asthma, ask about developing an asthma action plan with your doctor.
Get copies of common action plan templates on our Sensitive Choice website.
If you’re a health professional, visit our Asthma Action Plan Library.
Your personal plan
Different action plans suit different people, but all plans should have the same key information and may be based off your symptoms or peak flow measurements.
Plans for children are usually based on symptoms as this is just as effective as peak flow for indicating that asthma is getting worse.
Your personal asthma action plan should include:
- a list of your usual asthma medicines, including doses
- instructions on what to do when your asthma gets worse (including when to take extra doses or extra medicines, and when to contact a doctor or go to the emergency department)
- what to do in an asthma emergency
- the name of the doctor or other health professional who prepared the plan with you
- the date.
What should I do with my action plan?
Once you and your doctor have completed your asthma action plan, it will be given to you to keep. You can use it to remind you of your usual medication dose, what triggers or symptoms to look out for, or to check what to do if you start to feel unwell.
It’s a good idea to make copies to keep in your car, at work and at home. Action plans are available in many different formats, including on the Asthma Buddy mobile website. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a plan that suits you.
If you are the parent or carer of a child with asthma, you might like to get extra copies made of their asthma action plan so you can give one to their grandparents or regular carers. You should also give a copy to your child’s school, pre-school and/or childcare facility.
Remember to regularly review your action plan with your doctor, as your asthma may change over time.
Action plans for anaphylaxis, allergic reactions and eczema
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy has a range of action plans for anaphylaxis, allergic reactions and eczema on its website. Having an anaphylaxis action plan is particularly important for people at risk of serious allergic reactions.
Smartphone Apps
There are a number of apps available to help support in managing your asthma and your overall health and wellbeing.
Asthma Buddy
This mobile-only website gives you more flexibility and lets you input your asthma action plan into it so you know what day-to-day asthma medication to take. It also help you recognise if your asthma is getting worse and gives you advice on what to do about it.
To learn more about Asthma Buddy, visit here. If you are reading this on your mobile device, click here to sign up for Asthma Buddy.
ASCIA Action Plans and First Aid Plans for Anaphylaxis
Current ASCIA Action Plans are the 2021 versions, however, the 2020 and 2018 versions are still valid for use in 2021 and 2022. ASCIA Action Plans do not expire, and therefore the plan is still valid beyond the recommended review date, which is a guide for patients to see their doctor. For more information about ASCIA Action Plans go to www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/action-plans-for-allergic-reactions-faq
ASCIA Action Plans are medical documents that are completed and signed by the treating doctor or nurse practitioner. A signature is sufficient, ASCIA Action Plans do NOT need to be stamped. To insert a digital photograph and signature, first save as a PDF after typing patient details into the text fields. Alternatively a physical photograph can be glued to the plan and the doctor can use a wet or digital signature.
 ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED) 2021 EpiPen®This plan is provided to people with allergies who have been prescribed EpiPen® adrenaline autoinjectors. |
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ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED) 2021 Anapen®This plan is provided to people with allergies who have been prescribed Anapen® adrenaline autoinjectors will be available in Australia from September 2021. |
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ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED) 2021 GenericThis plan is provided to people with allergies who have been prescribed any brand of adrenaline injectors. |
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ASCIA Action Plan for Drug (Medication) Allergy (GREEN) 2021This plan is provided to people with drug (medication) allergies who have not been prescribed an adrenaline injector. |
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ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions (GREEN) 2021An ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis for use with adrenaline autoinjectors on airlines is available upon request. This plan is should be stored with adrenaline autoinjectors in emergency medical kits on airlines.
ASCIA First Aid Plans for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE)
Note: These have replaced the general versions of ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE).
 ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE) 2021 EpiPen®This plan can be used as a poster or stored with general use EpiPen® adrenaline autoinjectors. |
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ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE) 2021 Anapen®This plan can be used as a poster or stored with general use Anapen® adrenaline autoinjectors, expected to be available in Australia from September 2021. |
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ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (ORANGE) 2021 GenericThis plan can be used as a poster or stored with any brand of general use adrenaline injectors. |
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For translated versions of ASCIA First Aid for Anaphylaxis go to www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis#ta5
For further information about ASCIA Action Plans and other anaphylaxis resources go to www.allergy.org.au/anaphylaxis
Important information:
- ASCIA Action Plans were first developed in 2003 to standardise the recognition of signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and provide easy to follow steps for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. They continue to be used as the standard action plans throughout Australia and New Zealand. The content is regularly reviewed by experts and updated as required.
- ASCIA Action Plans do not expire, and therefore the plan is still valid beyond the review date, which is a guide for patients to see their doctor. Ideally, ASCIA Action Plans should be reviewed when patients are reassessed by their doctor or nurse practitioner, and each time they obtain a new adrenaline autoinjector prescription, which is approximately every 12 to 18 months. If there are no changes in diagnosis or management the medical information on the ASCIA Action Plan may not need to be updated. However, if the patient is a child, the photo should be updated each time, so they can be easily identified.
- ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis can be used for people with food, insect, tick and drug allergies, or any other allergy that can result in a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
- Adrenaline autoinjectors contain a single, fixed dose of adrenaline and are designed to be used by anyone (medical training is not required), including friends, teacher, childcare worker, parents or patients (if they are not too unwell or too young).
- It is generally recommended that people who have an adrenaline autoinjector should also wear a medical identification/emergency response emblem, or other medical identification.
- ASCIA Action Plans should be used as part of a comprehensive anaphylaxis management plan that includes:
