Blue or grey skin or lips: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services if blue or grey lips, tongue, face, or widespread skin colour appears suddenly, particularly with:

   • Severe difficulty breathing, gasping, or choking
   • Chest pain
   • Confusion, fainting, or unusual drowsiness
   • Inability to speak normally because of breathlessness
   • A child who is limp, difficult to wake, or struggling to breathe

   If someone is choking and cannot breathe or cough effectively, begin appropriate choking first aid while emergency help is called.

   A baby with a blue or grey tongue, lips, face, or body needs immediate assessment.

   Blue hands and feet may occur briefly in newborns, but colour affecting the lips or tongue should not be assumed to be normal.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Seek same-day medical advice if a new colour persists after warming, even without severe breathlessness, or if a home oxygen reading is unexpectedly low or steadily falling.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has a wound that is hot, spreading red, or leaking pus
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Book a routine appointment if episodes recur, affect daily activities, or happen without an obvious cold trigger.

   Mention new medicines, chemical exposure, finger pain, sores, swelling, or changes affecting only one side.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Blue or grey skin or lips. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.