How To Help Someone If They Have Trouble Breathing

It can be a frightening experience for both parties when someone is having trouble breathing. The person having trouble breathing may feel panicked and out of control, while the people around them may feel helpless and unsure of what to do. In some cases, it may be difficult to tell whether or not the person is actually in danger, but there are a few things you can do to help them breathe easier until they can get professional help.

1. Sit Them Up

When someone has trouble breathing, it's important to help them sit up. This will open up their lungs and make it easier for them to breathe. You can help them sit by gently raising their shoulders and head with your hands.

It would help if you gently raised their shoulders and head with your hands. If they sit in a chair, position them so that their feet are flat on the ground and their back is straight. If they are lying down, position them so that their head and shoulders are raised slightly off the bed and their chest is open. With the help of one of the tracheostomy supplies, you can help to keep their airway open. That way, they can get the air they need to breathe and not worry about getting blocked.

2. Give Them Room To Breathe

When somebody is having trouble breathing, it's important to give them room to breathe. You should back off and let them breathe as much air as possible. It also means not talking to or touching them until they've calmed down.

You can give them space by moving away from them or, if you're close, simply taking a step back. You can also help by scooting their chair back if they sit down to have more room. And just let them sit and breathe for a while, and they will eventually start to feel better.

3. Relax

When most people think of relaxation, they think of lying in a hammock on a tropical beach, sipping a drink with a straw. And while that can be one way to relax, there are many other ways to achieve the same goal. In fact, for some people, doing something as active as lying on the beach may be more stressful than relaxing.

The key to relaxation is to find what works for you. If lying on the beach doesn't sound very relaxing, that's okay. You can do many other things to relax, such as reading, listening to music, or taking a bath.

4. Loosen Their Clothing

When someone has trouble breathing, one of the things you should do is to help them loosen their clothing. This will help to make it easier for them to breathe. If the person is wearing a tie, carefully loosen the knot and pull the tie away from the neck. Be careful not to pull too hard, or you may strangle them. If there's a clip on the tie, unfasten it and remove the tie altogether.

If they have a belt, loosen the belt buckle and slip it out of the loops on either side of the waistband. Again, be careful not to pull too hard, or you may hurt them. Other items on their body constrict their breathing, such as suspenders or an elastic band around their waist. Carefully remove these items and set them aside so they can't accidentally tighten up again.

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5. Breathe With Them

Once you have loosened their clothing and given them room to breathe, the next step is to help them calm down by breathing with them. This means you should take a deep breath and then let it out slowly. Try to make your breath as long and smooth as possible as you exhale.

It would help if you continued breathing like this for a few minutes until the person has calmed down enough to take breaths on their own. If they start hyperventilating, you can help them by placing a paper bag over their mouth and nose, which will help them rebreathe their carbon dioxide and slow down their breathing.

6. Get Professional Help

If the person is still having trouble breathing, or if they start to feel faint or dizzy, it's time to call for professional help. Call 911 and give them your location if you have a cell phone. If not, find the nearest pay phone and make the call.

When the emergency operator answers, tell them that someone is having trouble breathing and give them your location. They will then dispatch an ambulance to your location. Once the ambulance arrives, they will take over care of the person and transport them to the hospital.

If someone has trouble breathing, staying calm and taking action are important. Loosen their clothing, breathe with them, and if they don't start to improve, call for professional help. With your help, the person will be able to get the care they need and eventually start breathing normally again.