Shortness of Breath

If the person in your care is short of breath have him stop what he is doing, lean his arms on a table or his legs, and encourage him to use pursed lip breathing. Try to help him control his breathing by saying, "breathe in, breathe out, slowly." If this doesn't restore his breathing pattern, have him use a fast-acting inhaler. If he uses an oximeter, check his oxygen saturation. Make sure the oxygen is on and the tank is not empty. Check all the oxygen connections; they can get disconnected. Increase the oxygen liter flow. Try not to panic: Anxiety will only make it harder for him to breathe.