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What to do if…
you develop a worsening cough or wheeze after breathing in smoke from a fire

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Move to clean air now. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing or any emergency sign below. Otherwise, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 now for exposure-specific advice and seek urgent medical assessment.

Do not do these things

  • Do not dismiss worsening symptoms because the fire was small. Symptoms can appear or worsen after exposure.
  • Do not re-enter an area with smoke or fumes, a place where a carbon-monoxide alarm is sounding, or a place emergency services have not said is safe.
  • Do not drive yourself if you feel dizzy, faint, confused, unusually sleepy, or significantly short of breath.
  • Do not use another person’s inhaler, nebulizer medication, steroids, or antibiotics.
  • Do not exercise to test whether your breathing is okay.

What to do now

  1. Move to clean air immediately. Go outside or to a clearly smoke-free place. Avoid cigarettes, vaping, and strong fumes.
  2. Call 911 now if any emergency sign applies:
    • Trouble breathing, rapidly worsening shortness of breath, or difficulty speaking normally
    • Bluish lips, fingers, or fingernails
    • Chest pain or pressure
    • Confusion, fainting, collapse, seizure, or difficulty staying awake
    • Muffled voice, difficulty speaking, or unusual breathing noises
  3. Treat carbon monoxide as possible if the fire or smoke was indoors, in a garage, or in another enclosed or partly enclosed space. Carbon monoxide cannot be ruled out by smell. If a carbon-monoxide alarm is sounding, leave immediately and call 911 from outside. If you have headache, dizziness, nausea, unusual fatigue, weakness, confusion, or shortness of breath, leave immediately, call the fire department or 911 from outside, and seek medical advice immediately.
  4. If you have asthma or COPD and have a prescribed rescue inhaler, use it exactly as directed in your personal action plan or prescription. Seek urgent medical help if symptoms are worsening or not improving as they normally do. Call 911 for significant or rapidly worsening breathing difficulty.
  5. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 after you are in clean air if you are not already calling 911. Tell them that you breathed in smoke and that your cough or wheeze is worsening. Mention any plastics, wiring, chemicals, fuel, or other materials that may have burned.
  6. Follow Poison Help’s advice about medical assessment. If you cannot reach Poison Help promptly, seek urgent medical assessment now. Use an emergency department if symptoms keep worsening, Poison Help advises it, or prompt assessment is not available elsewhere. Call 911 instead of travelling yourself if an emergency sign develops.
  7. Write down a brief exposure note to read out:
    • When the exposure happened and roughly how long it lasted
    • Whether it was indoors, outdoors, enclosed, or partly enclosed
    • What may have burned
    • Your symptoms now and whether they are worsening
    • Any asthma, COPD, heart condition, pregnancy, prescribed inhalers, home oxygen, medications, and allergies

What can wait

  • You do not need to identify the exact cause before asking for help.
  • You do not need to clean soot or deal with the smell while you are symptomatic.
  • You do not need to make insurance, repair, or reporting decisions while your breathing symptoms are worsening.

Important reassurance

A small fire can still produce irritating smoke. Calling for advice and getting assessed when cough or wheeze is worsening is a reasonable safety step.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Clinicians and Poison Help can guide the next decisions after hearing about the exposure and your symptoms.

Important note

This is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Call 911 for trouble breathing or any emergency sign listed above.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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