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Warning-sign checks

Oxygen therapy in infants: 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 if your baby:

    • Stops breathing or has prolonged pauses in breathing
    • Has blue or grey lips, tongue, or face
    • Is very difficult to wake or becomes limp
    • Has severe breathing difficulty
    • Remains below the emergency oxygen threshold in your care plan
    • Has no working oxygen supply when oxygen is continuously required
    • Is involved in a fire or significant oxygen-equipment incident
    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 advice if your baby is feeding much less, breathing harder or faster than usual, unusually sleepy, repeatedly vomiting, or cannot stay within the prescribed oxygen range despite following the written plan.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    For routine advice, contact your baby’s healthcare team if the nasal prongs repeatedly come out, the skin becomes irritated, oxygen needs seem to be changing, monitor alarms are frequent, or you are unsure how to use the equipment.

The article also says

Begin infant resuscitation if needed and if you have been trained to do so.

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