A 43-year-old male has called 911 with the complaint of difficulty breathing. On scene you note he is breathing at a rate of 18 breaths per minute. He also exhibits intercostal retractions and nasal flaring. The EMT should document this patient's breathing as:

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The patient's symptoms of difficulty breathing, intercostal retractions, and nasal flaring indicate dyspnea, which is a subjective experience of breathing discomfort. The breathing rate of 18 breaths per minute is within the normal range for an adult, so the terms apneic (no breathing), tachypneic (rapid breathing), and bradypneic (slow breathing) do not apply.

A 43-Year-Old Male Has Called 911 with the Complaint of Difficulty