Breathing Emergency: Breathing Slowed or Stopped: What to Do Now

If someone’s breathing has slowed dramatically or stopped, this is a breathing emergency and you need to act immediately. Within minutes, the situation can become fatal. The most important steps are to call emergency services, check responsiveness, open the airway, and start CPR if needed. If an opioid overdose is possible, give naloxone right away if available.

This guide explains what to do in a clear, step-by-step way so you can respond quickly and confidently.

First: Is this a breathing emergency?

Yes. Breathing that is very slow, shallow, irregular, or completely absent is a breathing emergency. The person may be:

• barely breathing
• making gasping or snoring sounds
• not responding when spoken to or shaken
• turning blue or gray around the lips or fingertips
• unconscious

If you are unsure, treat it as a breathing emergency. It is always safer to get help immediately.

What to do right now

1. Call emergency services immediately

Dial your local emergency number right away. Put the phone on speaker if possible so you can keep working.

Tell the dispatcher:

• the person is not breathing normally or has stopped breathing
• the exact location
• whether the person is awake or unconscious
• whether you suspect overdose, drowning, choking, heart attack, or another cause

Follow all instructions from the dispatcher. If you want a quick reference for CPR standards, the American Heart Association CPR information is a trusted resource.

2. Check responsiveness

Gently tap the person and speak loudly:

• “Are you okay?”
• “Can you hear me?”

If there is no response, move to the next step.

3. Look for breathing

Check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.

A person is not breathing normally if they:

• are not breathing at all
• only gasp
• breathe very slowly and shallowly
• make irregular, weak breaths

Gasping is not normal breathing and should be treated as a breathing emergency.

4. Open the airway

If the person is unconscious, gently tilt the head back and lift the chin unless you suspect a neck or spine injury. This helps open the airway.

If you see something blocking the mouth and it is easy to remove, take it out. Do not do a blind finger sweep.

5. Start CPR if the person is not breathing normally

If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin CPR.

Adult CPR basics

– Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest.
– Put your other hand on top.
– Push hard and fast at a rate of about 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
– Push down about 2 inches in an adult.
– Allow the chest to fully rise between compressions.
– Continue until emergency help arrives or the person starts breathing normally.

If you are trained and able, give rescue breaths after every 30 compressions. If not, do hands-only CPR and keep compressions going.

6. Use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available

If an AED is nearby:

• Turn it on.
• Follow the voice prompts.
• Attach the pads as shown on the device.
• Keep the person still while the AED analyzes the rhythm.
• Deliver a shock if instructed, then resume CPR.

AEDs are designed to be used by the public and can save lives.

If opioid overdose is possible, give naloxone

If the person may have taken opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, or similar drugs, use naloxone if you have it.

Signs that may suggest opioid overdose include:

• very slow or stopped breathing
• pinpoint pupils
• blue or gray lips
• unresponsiveness
• limp body

Naloxone can temporarily reverse opioid effects. Give it as directed by the product instructions, then continue monitoring and CPR if needed. Emergency care is still required even if the person wakes up.

For official overdose-response guidance, see the CDC overdose prevention resources.

If the person is breathing but very slowly

If the person is breathing but it is very slow, shallow, or abnormal:

• call emergency services immediately if you have not already
• keep the person awake if possible
• help them sit up or lie on their side if they are drowsy
• do not leave them alone
• watch closely for worsening breathing
• be ready to start CPR if breathing stops

Do not give food, drink, alcohol, or medication unless a medical professional or dispatcher tells you to. In a breathing emergency, the safest response is to keep the person monitored until help arrives.

If the person is choking

If breathing stopped after choking, the airway may be blocked.

If the person can cough or speak, encourage them to keep coughing.

If they cannot breathe, speak, or cough:

• call emergency services
• give abdominal thrusts if the person is conscious and you know how to do them
• for infants under 1 year, use back blows and chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts

If the person becomes unresponsive, start CPR and look for a visible object each time you open the airway.

Common causes of slowed or stopped breathing

Breathing problems can happen for many reasons, including:

• opioid or drug overdose
• choking
• severe allergic reaction
• asthma attack
• drowning
• head injury
• stroke
• seizure
• heart attack
• infection or severe illness
• carbon monoxide poisoning
• sleep apnea or other breathing disorders
• alcohol or sedative overdose

You do not need to identify the exact cause before acting. The emergency steps are the same: get help, support breathing, and start CPR if necessary. For more on severe breathing problems, see Severe Asthma Breathing Exercises That Really Help if asthma is part of the background or recovery plan.

What not to do

When someone’s breathing has slowed or stopped, avoid these mistakes:

• Do not wait to see if they improve on their own.
• Do not give them food, water, or pills.
• Do not put them in a bath or shower.
• Do not leave them alone.
• Do not assume they are sleeping.
• Do not try to force them to sit up if they are unconscious.
• Do not waste time searching for the exact cause before calling for help.

How to place someone in the recovery position

If the person is breathing but unconscious and you are not performing CPR, place them on their side in the recovery position. This helps keep the airway open and reduces the risk of choking on vomit.

To do this:

• kneel beside them
• place the arm closest to you at a right angle
• move the far arm across the chest
• bend the far knee
• gently roll them toward you onto their side
• tilt the head slightly back to keep the airway open

Keep monitoring their breathing until help arrives.

When to start CPR

Start CPR if the person:

• is unresponsive
• is not breathing
• is only gasping
• has no normal breaths

If you are unsure whether breathing is normal, start CPR. It is better to act than to delay during a breathing emergency.

What happens after emergency help arrives?

Emergency responders may:

• provide oxygen
• use a bag-mask device to assist breathing
• give naloxone
• use a defibrillator
• treat the underlying cause
• transport the person to the hospital for monitoring and further care

Even if the person seems to recover, they may still need urgent evaluation because breathing problems can return.

When to seek medical care after the emergency

After a breathing emergency, medical care is important if the person:

• had stopped breathing
• needed naloxone
• was choking
• had a seizure, head injury, or overdose
• seems confused, weak, or sleepy afterward
• has chest pain, fever, or ongoing shortness of breath

Do not assume they are fully safe just because they woke up. A breathing emergency can recur or reveal another serious problem that still needs treatment.

Quick summary: what to do now

If breathing has slowed or stopped:

1. Call emergency services immediately
2. Check responsiveness
3. Check for normal breathing
4. Open the airway
5. Start CPR if breathing is absent or not normal
6. Use an AED if available
7. Give naloxone if opioid overdose is possible
8. Keep going until help arrives

Final takeaway

A person whose breathing has slowed or stopped needs immediate action. The right response is simple: call for help, check breathing, start CPR if needed, and use naloxone if opioids may be involved. Acting fast can save a life in a breathing emergency.

For another life-saving situation that can make breathing difficult, read about how long a blood transfusion takes when urgent treatment is being discussed in a hospital setting.