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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is breathing fast, shallow, or with great effort. They may feel they cannot get enough air.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Breathing very fast or using neck and belly muscles to breathe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cannot speak full sentences — only a few words at a time.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blue or grey lips, fingernails, or face.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Confusion, drowsiness, or collapsing.
Scene hazards: Smoke, Chemical fumes, Traffic
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 or shout for someone to call while you help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Move away from smoke, dust, or strong smells if present.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help the person sit upright. Leaning forward with hands on knees (tripod position) can ease effort.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Loosen belts, ties, and tight collars.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they have a prescribed inhaler and can use it, help them take one puff — but do not delay calling 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Monitor every few seconds — if they stop responding or breathing, start CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Person struggling to breathe. Cannot speak full sentences. Lips blue: yes/no."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Mention known conditions — asthma, heart disease, recent illness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden or worsening breathlessness always needs emergency care — oxygen and advanced treatment may be required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they stop responding or breathing, start CPR immediately — do not wait for ambulance to arrive first.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT lay them flat if sitting up helps — support the best position.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give food, drink, or sedatives.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT tell them to "calm down and breathe normally" if they cannot — this adds panic.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT drive a severely breathless person alone — ambulance has oxygen and monitoring.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Breathing into a paper bag fixes serious breathlessness
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Paper bags are not recommended for unknown causes and can be dangerous. Call 112 and support upright positioning.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Delays treatment for heart attack, asthma, or allergic reaction.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Breathing difficulty can come from asthma, heart problems, allergic reaction, infection, choking, or many other causes. You do not need to know the cause to help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The body may not get enough oxygen — lips or fingernails may turn blue. This is an emergency.