When to call for emergency help for a patient with elevated CO2?

In situations where a patient has elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, calling for emergency help is crucial if the patient is unresponsive. This is because unresponsiveness can indicate serious underlying issues such as respiratory distress or failure, which may require immediate medical intervention. Elevated CO2 can lead to conditions like respiratory acidosis and affects the body's ability to oxygenate effectively, making unresponsiveness a critical sign that warrants urgent assistance.

While evaluating the other scenarios: an alert patient could still be compensating for CO2 retention, and normal breathing doesn't necessarily indicate adequate oxygenation or control of CO2 levels. Reporting mild discomfort might suggest some level of functionality or mild symptoms that do not necessitate emergency intervention. Therefore, unresponsiveness is the primary reason to seek emergency help in the context of elevated CO2.