VenAVenA
Menu

What is happening?

Choose the situation or describe what you see.

Step 3 of 3Back
Instructions for helping someone else

Difficulty breathing

Before continuing

In an emergency, contact the official service (141) in your area.

What to do

  1. Unable to speak from breathlessness, heavy chest, confusion or pale/blue/grey lips: emergency help now.
  2. Child grunting, skin pulling in below ribs or floppy: get emergency help.
  3. If awake, help find a comfortable breathing position. Suspected severe allergy: follow that guide. Do not make them walk or stand.
  4. Stay if safe. Watch response and breathing. Report changes to the dispatcher.
  5. If unresponsive: call emergency services. If breathing is abnormal, start CPR with dispatcher guidance.
  6. Give location and symptoms. No phone or signal: ask someone to call from a safe place. Do not delay help to collect belongings.
  7. New or worse-than-usual breathlessness needs assessment even if not severe. Blood cough, swollen leg or palpitations: urgent advice.

What to avoid

  1. Do not assume anxiety or asthma. Breathlessness can have another cause.
  2. Do not drive with breathing difficulty.
Child or baby unresponsive and not breathing normally: child CPRPossible CO: leave, no unequipped rescueChemical cloud: protect before approachPossible severe allergy: positioning and own adrenalineAdult unresponsive and not breathing normally: CPRKnown asthma: own inhalerAdult cannot speak/cough after eatingBaby chokingChild choking