What should you do first if someone is having breathing problems?

When someone is having breathing problems, the first step is to ask the person if they need help. This action serves multiple purposes: it allows you to assess the situation and the severity of their condition while simultaneously providing the individual an opportunity to communicate their needs. People experiencing respiratory distress may be anxious or scared, and engaging them can offer reassurance and clarify their symptoms.

By asking for help, you give the person a chance to express what they are feeling, whether it's tightness in the chest, wheezing, or a history of asthma, which can guide your next steps in providing assistance. This approach fosters rapport, can help calm the individual, and gives you clearer insight into the situation, enabling you to provide appropriate first aid.

Checking for consciousness or positioning the person may not be effective until you have gathered more information from the individual. Performing CPR is generally reserved for situations where there is no pulse or the person is unresponsive, which would not be the immediate case when someone is merely experiencing breathing issues.