Just after midnight on a quiet street, a retired serviceman noticed a young woman in obvious distress. She was gasping and agitated; drawing on military training and past experience, he judged the episode to be respiratory alkalosis caused by hyperventilation and moved to help.
He dashed to a nearby convenience store, retrieved a plastic bag and, with the assistance of the girl’s friend, gently placed it over her head while leaving space around the neck for air. The improvised rebreathing technique raises carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and can help restore the blood gas balance that is disturbed during acute hyperventilation.
After several minutes of calm, the woman’s breathing slowed and her symptoms abated. Satisfied she no longer needed immediate care, the veteran quietly offered reassurance, declined further attention and went home. He later identified himself as Gao Ge and said he felt proud his military training had allowed him to act decisively.
The episode is small in scale but revealing. Hyperventilation-induced respiratory alkalosis is often triggered by panic or acute stress; prompt, simple measures that reduce breathing rate and increase inhaled carbon dioxide can break the cycle. At the same time, improvised rebreathing methods are not universally safe: they must be applied with the right assessment, technique and caution to avoid masking other dangerous conditions such as asthma, cardiac events or airway obstruction.
Beyond the immediate medical outcome, the incident speaks to the role of trained civilians in urban safety. Veterans and first responders who retain procedural skills can provide rapid, confidence‑building assistance before professional medical services arrive. Their readiness can reduce harm in everyday emergencies and augment formal emergency-response systems.
The case also highlights a public‑health opportunity: wider dissemination of basic first‑aid training and clear, accessible guidance on how to manage common emergencies would reduce bystander uncertainty and risk. Simple courses that teach recognition of hyperventilation versus other acute respiratory problems—and safe interventions that prioritise assessment and calling emergency services—could turn isolated acts of courage into routine, safer responses.