text: how do i save someone who is hyper-ventilating?   someone who is hyer-ventilating must slow their breathing.  talk to him/her calmly. tell them you know they feel like there's not enough air, but there really is, and they need to trust you. have them sit on a secure chair or bench, and lean forward with their elbows on their knees, and look at the ground. tell them to try to match your breathing pattern. then you take steady, slow, deep breaths. in..2..3..., out..2...3...4, in..2..3..., out..2...3...4. count softly out loud as you do this to help them focus.  when they match your breathing for several breaths, start talking to them, in a calm, happy, way, about something you share with them that was fun. try to get his/her mind off his/her breathing.   soon they'll be in the conversation, and not thinking about it either, and their breathing will normalize.  if the person does not calm down, and ends up fainting, their breathing will normalize anyway...but it is an awful experience. if they faint, make sure they don't hit their head on anything, lay them gently on their backs, prop their feet on something about 6 inches off the floor, and support their head with a flat pillow or folded small blanket. they should come around on their own, but if they are out for more than a couple of minutes, and you have smelling salts handy, give them a whiff or two. if you don't have smelling salts, a cool, wet washcloth placed gently against their cheeks may help wake them up.   if they fainted, once they are awake, take them to their doctor's office and have them check them over.