Symptoms
Symptoms include hoarseness, coughing, noisy breathing, black or grey spittle, and fluid in the lungs. Lack of oxygen is evident from shortness of breath and blue-grey or cherry-red skin colour. The person may be unconscious or may stop breathing. There may also be burns around and inside the nose and mouth, singed nasal hairs and internal swelling of the throat.

Advertisement

Home treatment

• Get the person into fresh air immediately.
• The person should rest while taking deep breaths.

Call your doctor if:

• There are any signs of wheezing, trouble breathing, a continuous cough, an upset stomach or vomiting. The person will need oxygen as soon as possible.
• The person develops a high temperature and/or becomes confused, irritable or unusually sleepy.

Read more: Learn CPR
Visual: CPR - Clearing the airways
Visual: CPR - Breathing technique
Visual: CPR - Location of lower breastbone
Visual: CPR - Chest compression
 

Print this article

Rate this article Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

JOBS

Civil Engineering Technician Gauteng - Johannesburg Accountant Gauteng - North/Sandton Financial Manager R550,000-600,000 Per Annum Central African Republic Financial Accountant R300,000-340,000 Per Annum Gauteng Treasury Specialist R500,000-630,000 Per Annum Gauteng - East Rand Credit Manager R300,000-400,000 Per Annum Mpumalanga Financial Manager R27,000-30,000 Per Month Gauteng - North/Sandton Delphi developers Gauteng - North/Sandton Find more jobs Register your CV Post a job