Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Call emergency services immediately for:
Severe or rapidly worsening difficulty breathing
Rapidly increasing neck swelling
Heavy bleeding from the wound
Blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse, or extreme drowsiness
Do not drive yourself during a breathing emergency.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Contact your healthcare team promptly for increasing redness, warmth, discharge, fever, worsening neck pain, new hoarseness, noisy breathing, or persistent trouble swallowing.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
After discharge, attend all planned wound, airway, voice, or swallowing appointments.
Mild soreness that is improving can usually be discussed at routine follow-up.
The article also says
While you are in hospital, staff continuously monitor the airway.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Emergency airway puncture. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.