Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with smoke inhalation, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After a fire, the person coughed, has soot around nose or mouth, hoarse voice, or trouble breathing.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Fresh air. Call 112. Sit upright. Loosen neck clothing. Watch breathing.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Soot around nose or mouth, singed nasal hairs, or hoarse voice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Persistent cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath after fire.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Confusion, headache, or dizziness — possible carbon monoxide.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hot smoke burns the airway lining. Swelling can block breathing hours after exposure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Carbon monoxide from fires is invisible and deadly — person may seem confused.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Get out of smoke. Move to clean outdoor air if safe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say smoke inhalation, breathing difficulty yes/no.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help sit upright — easier to breathe than lying flat.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Loosen collar and belt. Stay calm and monitor breathing.
When and how to get professional help.
Any smoke inhalation with breathing difficulty or soot in nose needs emergency care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Get to fresh air and call. Airway swelling can worsen over hours — hospital monitoring is essential.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say fire smoke inhalation, soot visible, breathing problems, number of people affected.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All significant smoke inhalation needs hospital observation — airway can close later.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT re-enter a burning building.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume they are fine because they walked out — airway swelling can be delayed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give water if coughing severely or drowsy.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they got out of the fire breathing, no hospital visit is needed
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Airway swelling and carbon monoxide effects can peak hours later.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Acid attack
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Acid or corrosive liquid was thrown deliberately on a person, usually face and body, causing burning pain and chemical burns.
Chemical skin burn
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Acid, alkali, cleaning product, or industrial chemical contacted the skin causing pain, redness, or tissue damage.
Chemical in eye
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Chemical, cleaning product, or unknown liquid splashed into an eye causing burning, redness, and tearing.
Child scald
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child was scalded by hot bath water, spilled cup, or cooking pot. Children's skin burns more severely than adults.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If breathing stops — start CPR if trained.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden airway obstruction or collapse at home.