Pitfalls

Failure to appreciate the severity of the episode before ambulance treatment
Allowing hypoxia by driving nebulisers with air
Failure to recognise the patient who has deteriorated secondary to a spontaneous pneumothorax
Failure to acknowledge the increased mortality risk of patients with a history of severe asthma and an adverse psychosocial factor
Discharging asthmatic patients late at night
Failure to arrange GP follow up after discharge
Prescribing NSAIDs to asthmatics in the ED without first checking about prior use and exacerbations.