Spacers

A spacer is a chamber that sits between a puffer and the mouth. Press the puffer once and the medication is held in the chamber, so it can be breathed in steadily over several breaths rather than needing to be inhaled at the exact moment the puffer fires.

That matters because getting the timing right is hard, and most people do not. Used with a spacer, considerably more of the dose reaches the lungs rather than the back of the throat.

The Able Spacer is Australia’s number one spacer range. It uses a heart valve that stays closed until a breath is taken, so the dose is held in the chamber rather than escaping while the device is being positioned.

Masks come in three sizes. A spacer with a small mask suits infants and toddlers, a medium mask suits most children, and from about age five most people can use the mouthpiece on its own with no mask at all. Adults who find the mouthpiece difficult can use a large mask.