Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with hyperventilation, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is breathing rapidly with tingling hands or lips during panic, stress, or after a fright — but is awake and talking.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Stay calm. Sit upright. Slow breaths out longer. Call 112 if chest pain or blue lips.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Very fast breathing with tingling fingers, lips, or light-headedness during stress.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Red flags: crushing chest pain, blue lips, wheeze, one-sided leg swelling, fainting, or confusion.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Rapid breathing lowers carbon dioxide and can cause dizziness, tingling, and chest tightness — frightening but often not life-threatening when person is awake and talking.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Same symptoms can occur in heart attack, asthma, or blood clot — watch for red flags.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "You are safe. I am here. Let us breathe together slowly."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check lips colour and whether they can speak full sentences.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Breathe with them — in 4 seconds, out 6 seconds, repeat.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Reduce stimulation — lower voice, fewer people, open a window for fresh air.
When and how to get professional help.
Chest pain, blue lips, confusion, fainting, or asthma history with wheeze needs emergency care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Reassurance and paced breathing only. Do not diagnose panic vs heart attack without help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 if chest pain, blue lips, fainting, or symptoms do not ease in 10 minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Fast breathing after panic. Chest pain: yes/no. Lips blue: yes/no."
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT tell them to "calm down" or shout — this worsens panic.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT use a paper bag — not recommended and can be dangerous if cause is unknown.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Breathing into a paper bag always fixes hyperventilation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Paper bags are no longer recommended. They can hide dangerous causes and cause low oxygen if used wrongly.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Missing heart attack or asthma while treating as simple panic.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Asthma attack
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person with asthma is wheezing, coughing, and struggling to breathe. Their usual inhaler is not enough.
Smoke inhalation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was in a fire, burning building, or heavy smoke and now has cough, hoarseness, or difficulty breathing.
Epiglottitis
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden severe sore throat with fever, drooling, muffled voice, and difficulty swallowing — often in older children or adults.
Hard to breathe
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is breathing fast, shallow, or with great effort. They may feel they cannot get enough air.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — First episode with chest pain or age over 40 with risk factors — treat as possible heart emergency.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Repeated panic breathing may need doctor or counsellor follow-up — not shameful.