Allergy Clinical Services

Devices

Remove the caps from both your inhaler (MDI) and spacer. Look inside the spacer to check that it is empty.
Shake the MDI four to five times
Place the mouthpiece of the MDI into the soft rubber ring at the open end of the spacer and make sure the MDI is pointing upwards.
Place the spacer mouthpiece between your child's lips
Press down on the MDI canister to release the medicine into the spacer. Then have your child breathe in slowly and deeply. If you hear a whistle, your child is breathing in too fast. Have your child hold his breath while you count to ten slowly.
Take the mouthpiece out of your child's mouth and have her breathe out slowly.
Wait one to three minutes before repeating steps 2 through 6 for the second puff.

Remove the cap form the MDI. Look inside the spacer to make sure it is empty.
Shake the MDI four to five times
Insert the mouthpiece of the MDI into the soft rubber ring at the open end of the spacer. Make sure the MDI is pointing upwards.
Place the mask gently over your child's face so that his mouth and nose are covered. Be certain that there is a good seal. Your child can breathe in and out comfortably while the mask is held in place.
Press down on the MDI canister to release the medicine into the spacer. Keep the mask on your child's face and watch her take six breaths.
Wait one to three minutes before repeating steps 2 through 5 for the second puff.

Reviewed by: Paulette Taylor, RN, CPN, AE-C
Date: February 2009

Main Number: 215-590-1000
Physician Referral Service: 1-800-879-2467
Coordinates: 39.9486937, -75.1929596
An Equal Opportunity Employer
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability or veteran status.