Rescue breathing

Aim

Rescue breathing is aimed to help you breathe more easily by encouraging the upper airway to relax, opening the vocal cords and improving flow of air through the larynx

Exercises can be helpful by:

• preventing symptoms from happening  
• making your symptoms less frequent or severe  
• shortening the episodes 

Carry out these exercises if you experience the following:

• coughing, or throat clearing
• the urge to cough
• tightness in your throat that makes it difficult to breathe

Practise these exercises daily if you have been advised to do so by ENT, Respiratory Medicine or a Speech and Language Therapist.

Practise tips:

1. Carry out daily, little and often, even when you have no symptoms. This will help you to remember this technique so that it can be used more easily, when you are experiencing symptoms.  
2. With practise, you will be able to perform rescue breaths in various positions, not just while sitting.
3. You can also practise adjusting the speed, so that you are familiar with this during symptoms: 
   •    Start with fast sniffs and blows 
   •    Gradually slow down the pace as your breathing settles.

Daily exercise:

1. Stay calm
2. Position yourself comfortably
3. Carry out a short sharp sniff in through the nose
4. Gently blow out the air on 2 short gentle puffs, with rounded lips (like blowing bubbles or blowing out a candle). Aim to make your second puff slightly longer.
5. Pause. Then repeat this 5 times.

Practise little and often throughout the day.

Carry out emergency rescue breathing techniques if you identify:

1. Early warning signs that an episode of Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) is starting, i.e. feeling of irritation or tightness in your throat, sensation of your throat closing up, difficulties breathing or feeling short of breath, hoarseness or changes in your voice, coughing or throat clearing.
2. When you are experiencing an episode of ILO.