If an individual is suffering from severe, acute breathing problems and needs emergency help, take the following steps:

1. Dial 9-1-1 immediately
   
   
2. Check the person’s airway, breathing and circulation and begin rescue breathing or CPR if necessary
   
   
3. Loosen tight clothing
   
   
4. Help the person use a prescribed inhaler, oxygen or other medications
   
   
5. Monitor the person until help arrives
   
   
6. Bandage open wounds in the neck and chest immediately, especially if air bubbles appear in the wounds
   
   
7. Close open wounds in the chest cavity with a bandage to prevent air from getting in and causing a collapsed lung. Use a plastic wrap or gauze pads covered with petroleum jelly and seal it except for one corner (to allow trapped air to escape the chest). 

Once at the hospital, treatments will vary depending on the condition or other factor causing the breathing problem. For instance, asthma-related breathing disorders may be treated with bronchodilators while people with emphysema may be given oxygen.