Patients and healthcare providers should complete this action plan together.
This plan should be discussed at each visit and updated as needed.

The green, yellow and red zones show symptoms of COPD. The list of symptoms is not complete. You may
experience other symptoms. In the “Actions” column, your healthcare provider will recommend actions for you to
take. Your healthcare provider may write down other actions in addition to those listed here.

Green Zone: I am doing well today Actions
• Usual activity and exercise level Take daily medicines
• Usual amounts of cough and phlegm/mucus Use oxygen as prescribed
• Sleep well at night Continue regular exercise/diet plan
• Appetite is good Avoid tobacco product use and other inhaled irritants

Yellow Zone: I am having a bad day or a COPD flare Actions
• More breathless than usual Continue daily medication
• I have less energy for my daily activities Use quick relief inhaler every hours
• Increased or thicker phlegm/mucus Start an oral corticosteroid (specify name, dose, and duration)
• Using quick relief inhaler/nebulizer more often
• More swelling in ankles Start an antibiotic (specify name, dose, and duration)
• More coughing than usual
• I feel like I have a “chest cold” Use oxygen as prescribed
• Poor sleep and my symptoms woke me up Get plenty of rest
• My appetite is not good Use pursed lip breathing
• My medicine is not helping Avoid secondhand smoke, e-cigarette aerosol, and
other inhaled irritants
Call provider immediately if symptoms do not improve

Red Zone: I need urgent medical care Actions
• Severe shortness of breath even at rest Call 911 or seek medical care immediately
• Not able to do any activity because of breathing While getting help, immediately do the following:
• Not able to sleep because of breathing
• Fever or shaking chills
• Feeling confused or very drowsy
• Chest pains
• Coughing up blood