What to Do If Someone Is Breathing but Unresponsive
Breathing Does Not Always Mean Everything Is Fine When someone is unresponsive, first check whether they are breathing normally. If they are not breathing normally or are only gasping, start CPR and use an AED quickly. If they are breathing normally, do not assume they are asleep. Call for medical help, provide care you are trained to give, and monitor them until help arrives.
Start by Checking for a Response First, make sure the area is safe. Check whether the person responds by speaking loudly and gently tapping their shoulders. If they do not respond, take it seriously. Ask someone to call 911 and bring an AED if available. Do not waste time finding the cause. Follow emergency instructions and provide care as needed.
Check Their Breathing Carefully Do not assume someone is breathing normally after a quick glance. Watch carefully for regular breathing. Gasping, unusual, or irregular breaths may indicate cardiac arrest and require CPR. If an unconscious person is breathing normally, CPR is not usually needed. Keep their airway clear, monitor their breathing, and call for emergency medical help.
What Should You Do If They Are Breathing Normally? If someone is unconscious but breathing normally, place them on their side if there are no signs of serious injury. This helps keep the airway clear and lowers the risk of choking. Stay with them, watch their breathing, and wait for emergency help. Keep their head supported and knees bent to maintain stability.
When You Should Not Roll the Person Over There is an important exception. If you think someone may have a head, neck, back, hip, or pelvic injury, do not quickly move them into the recovery position. Keep them still, call emergency services, and watch their breathing. Move them only if necessary to protect their airway or remove them from immediate danger.
What If Their Breathing Changes? Continuous observation is essential because an unconscious person who is breathing normally can suddenly get worse. Their breathing may slow, become irregular, or stop. If they start gasping or stop breathing normally, call 911, get an AED, and begin CPR. For adults, give chest compressions at 100–120 per minute and use the AED promptly.
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