Respiratory distress is one of the most common emergencies resulting in a 911 call. Whether it be an asthma attack, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation or complication of pneumonia, difficulty breathing is a symptom that prehospital providers encounter quite frequently.

Most patients that call for emergency medical services for breathing problems have known-disease pathologies that are respiratory in nature. For example, patients with asthma, an obstructive pulmonary disorder, often present with chest tightness, wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Nebulized albuterol and supplemental oxygen are normally first-line interventions for the typical asthma attack. Providers understand the mechanism of action for those medications since they aim to correct the impaired respiratory processes as a result of disease.

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