Immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Check the
person's airway, breathing, and pulse. If necessary, begin CPR.
Loosen any tight clothing. Help the person use any prescribed
medication (such as an asthma inhaler or home oxygen). Continue
to monitor the person's breathing and pulse until medical help
arrives. Do NOT assume that the person's condition is improving
if you can no longer hear abnormal breath sounds, such as
wheezing. If there are open wounds in the neck or chest, they
must be closed immediately, especially if air bubbles appear in
the wound. Bandage such wounds at once. A "sucking" chest wound
allows air to enter the person's chest cavity with each breath.
This can cause a collapsed lung. Bandage the wound with plastic
wrap, a plastic bag, or gauze pads covered with petroleum jelly,
sealing it except for one corner. This allows trapped air to
escape from the chest, but it prevents air from entering the
chest through the wound. Do NOT give the person food or drink.
Do NOT move the pe