Directions for using Peak Flow Meter: Ensure a disposable mouthpiece is used for each patient and that the mouthpiece of the peak flow meter is sanitized with an alcohol swab Step 1: Before each use, shake the meter vertically to make sure the sliding yellow marker is at the bottom of the numbered scale Step 2: Have patient stand up straight (may sit if unable to stand). Remove gum or any food from mouth. Instruct them to take a deep breath (as deep as they can). Ask them to put the mouthpiece of the peak flow meter into their mouth forming a tight seal with their lips and ensuring tongue is away from the mouthpiece. In one breath, have them blow out as hard and as nearly quickly as possible: “blow a fast, hard blast until you have emptied out all of the air from your lungs”. Step 3: Note the PEFR in L/min in the Passport. Step 4: Repeat the entire routine three times. (You know you have done the routine correctly when the numbers from all three tries are very close together.) Step 5: Use their best reading as compared to expected value to determine where they fall (80-100, 50-79, <50%) and note in passport. Assessment lung health Complete risk factor checklist Smoking (current or recent) and pack year history Describe what smoking does to the lungs and the good news that no matter how long someone has smoked, the lungs can heal themselves when smoking stops “15 years post smoking” diagram Healthy lung vs. smoker’s lung picture Risk factors for lung infections: Age≥65, chronic disease, weakened immunity Occupational/environmental exposures Sedentary (<30 min of physical activity - where the heart rate goes up and some sweat forms most days/week) Obesity/overweight – BMI >24.9 Note limitations of BMI Chest breather or use of accessory muscles (as self identified during station 2)
Directions for using Peak Flow Meter: Ensure a disposable mouthpiece is used for each patient and that the mouthpiece of the peak flow meter is sanitized with an alcohol swab Step 1: Before each use, shake the meter vertically to make sure the sliding yellow marker is at the bottom of the numbered scale Step 2: Have patient stand up straight (may sit if unable to stand). Remove gum or any food from mouth. Instruct them to take a deep breath (as deep as they can). Ask them to put the mouthpiece of the peak flow meter into their mouth forming a tight seal with their lips and ensuring tongue is away from the mouthpiece. In one breath, have them blow out as hard and as quickly as possible: “blow a fast, hard blast until you have emptied out nearly all of the air from your lungs”. Step 3: Note the PEFR in L/min in the Passport. Step 4: Repeat the entire routine three times. (You know you have done the routine correctly when the numbers from all three tries are very close together.) Step 5: Use their best reading as compared to expected value to determine where they fall (80-100, 50-79, <50%) and note in passport. Assessment lung health Complete risk factor checklist Smoking (current or recent) and pack year history Describe what smoking does to the lungs and the good news that no matter how long someone has smoked, the lungs can heal themselves when smoking stops “15 years post smoking” diagram Healthy lung vs. smoker’s lung picture Risk factors for lung infections: Age≥65, chronic disease, weakened immunity Occupational/environmental exposures Sedentary (<30 min of physical activity - where the heart rate goes up and some sweat forms most days/week) Obesity/overweight – BMI >24.9 Note limitations of BMI Chest breather or use of accessory muscles (as self identified during station 2)