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Warning-sign checks

Infantile apnea: when to get help

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. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services immediately if a baby:

    • Is not breathing or is only gasping
    • Has blue-gray lips or tongue
    • Is limp, unresponsive, or very difficult to wake
    • Has severe breathing difficulty or cannot recover normally
    • Has a prolonged episode or repeated episodes without full recovery

    If the baby is not breathing normally, start infant CPR if you have been trained and follow emergency-dispatch instructions.

    Do not shake the baby or place anything in their mouth.

    Contact the regular care team about increasing alarms, equipment concerns, medicine questions, or episodes that are changing but do not require emergency help.

    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. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent medical assessment for a first unexplained breathing pause, repeated pauses, new choking with feeds, worsening noisy breathing, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, or a clear change from the baby's usual pattern.

    A rectal temperature of 38°C or higher in a baby younger than 3 months also needs prompt medical assessment.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    For a baby with diagnosed apnea who appears well, use the written follow-up and monitoring plan.

The article also says

Place the baby on a firm, flat surface.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Infantile apnea. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.