First aid for shortness of breath
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
Shortness of breath has many causes, from anxiety to life-threatening conditions. Assessment is essential.
What to do
• Let the person sit or half-lie in whatever position is most comfortable
• Provide fresh air — open a window
• Loosen restrictive clothing (tie, tight jacket)
• Try to calm their breathing by breathing along with them
• Call 112 if the condition worsens quickly or the lips turn blue
Do not do
• Do not lay a breathless person flat
• Do not give water if breathing is difficult
Warning signs
• Lips or fingernails turning blue — serious lack of oxygen
• The person cannot speak full sentences
• Unconsciousness with breathlessness
Get help if
• The breathlessness is sudden and severe
• Lips or nails turn blue
• There is no known cause such as anxiety or exertion
Why this matters
Severe breathlessness can point to pneumonia, heart failure, embolism or an asthma attack — all potentially life-threatening.
Source: Rode Kruis EHBO · reviewed 2025-01-01