FM
Peak Flow Meter (PFM)
Purpose
Tells you how well your lungs are working with the current medications.
Device Overview
Show the patient the instrument and explain its parts:
- Clear plastic body
- Logarithmic scale
- Internal flow indicator with colour zones
- Mouthpiece
Proper Posture
- Standing
- Avoid bending your neck down
- No food or gum
Measurement Procedure
- Take the peak flow device and reset the pointer to zero.
- Place a fresh mouthpiece into the peak flow meter.
- Hold the meter correctly with fingers not interfering with the pointer and make a tight seal around the mouthpiece.
- Breath in as deeply as possible and hold your breath.
- Demonstrate to the patient how to blow as hard and as fast as possible through the peak flow meter in a single blow.
- Write down the level (aside) and put the marker back to zero.
- Repeat the measurement 3 times and record the highest reading on the chart as your Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in L/min.
Patient Understanding
Demonstrate checking the patient understands by asking her/him to carry out the procedure in front of the candidate.
Determining Personal Best Peak Flow Number
When you get out of this attack, measure your PFM daily:
- Between 12-2 pm
- Between 7-9 am
- Between 6-8 pm
Do this for 2-3 weeks so that you know your best Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) number.