Asthma can be life threatening. Watching somebody gasping for breath is a terrifying experience and being well prepared is the best defence.
Take action:
Rush to your closest hospital if: the asthmatic's symptoms get worse even after taking extra medication; the person is having a hard time breathing (or his/her peak flow has dropped below 50%); the patient is struggling to walk or talk; his/her lips and fingernails have turned blue-grey.