That would work if you have excellent breath-holding ability. But since you're exerting yourself by carrying an ~150-lb body, there is a risk you'll pass out because you're holding your breath. So you probably should take multiple trips, repeatedly moving the person partially and then returning to get good air. You should _slowly_ exhale all the while.
DO NOT hyperventilate before holding your breath and exerting yourself! Reason is, if you hyperventilate, then take a big breath, hold it and exert yourself you are likely to pass out _instantly_ w/o warning! [This was something we learned as kids - do not do this! You _will_ pass out (and you also risk embolism/stroke).
"Why slowly exhale?" - So you don't increase the pressure in your lungs.
"Why is hyperventilating first bad?" - Should you hyperventilate and then hold your breath and any pressure is put on your lungs, YOU WILL PASS OUT! Don't do this!
Essentially hyperventilation reduces the blood's CO2 level. It becomes so low (while hyperventilating) that the body does not detect when the CO2 level subsequently rises to a dangerous level(while diving/holding your breath). The body fails to urge you to breathe fresh air and so you unwittingly pass out.
Deep-water divers hyperventilate and then take a big breath immediately before they dive. Sometimes "shallow water blackout" (same as what happens to kids in the "choking game) occurs, endangering the diver:
I've always been confused by this too - you'd think holding your breath would make it safe-ish.
I can only assume that it's still extremely risky because even if you remember to do it, you are very likely to misjudge how long you can hold your breath during an emergency situation with adrenaline pumping that requires you to drag someone up the stairs. Which means you get halfway up, end up forced to take a big deep breath, and pass out.
You could do that while lifting and carrying a 150 pound person up some stairs? Maybe if you had a rope with a slip knot, you could run down and put the rope around their body and run back up, then pull them up the stairs while trying not to hit their head on each step?
