The body requires a constant supply of oxygen to survive, which it gets through the act of breathing. Breathing is the effortless process of bringing oxygen into the body and expelling carbon dioxide.
Oxygen in the air is transferred to the blood through the lungs. The heart then pumps the newly oxygenated blood to every cell in the body, which needs the oxygen to survive. The cells of the human body cannot live long without oxygen. If a person should stop breathing, the heart would eventually stop beating. When the heart stops beating, the oxygen will not be supplied to the cells, and within ten minutes, the cells of the brain will start to die. Once enough cells die, the human body can no longer survive.
There are many types of breathing emergencies. Recognizing the characteristic of breathing emergencies and giving immediate care can prevent a more serious situation.