ABSENCE OF BREATHING

If someone’s breathing has stopped, emergency action in the form of artificial respiration is needed within three minutes. After four minutes irreversible brain damage can occur.

OPENING AND CLEARING THE AIRWAY

If the patient is unconscious, the airway may be narrowed or blocked, making breathing impossible.

WHAT TO DO

• Lay the patient’s face upwards. Support the back of the neck.
• Tilting the head back with one hand, lift the neck with the other hand and pull the jaw forwards and upwards.
• If the breathing does not resume, turn the patient’s head to the side. Sweep around and deep inside the mouth, to make sure that nothing is blocking the windpipe.
• If the breathing still does not resume, give mouth-to-mouth respiration immediately

EMERGENCY ACTION

HOW TO RECOGNISE ABSENCE OF BREATHING

• One cannot feel or hear air being exhaled
• No rise- and- fall in chest movement
• Face becomes bluish-grey colour

WHAT TO DO

• Open and clear the airway.
• If breathing does not start, give artificial respiration immediately.
• Continue until the patient’s breathing assumes a natural rhythm.

1. MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESPIRATION

This is the preferred method of artificial respiration

WHAT TO DO

• Put the palm of your hand on the patient’s forehead, and press the head backwards.
• Pinch the patient’s nostrils closed, then take a deep breath and seal your mouth around his mouth. Blow strongly into his lungs.
• Give 4 breaths in rapid succession
• Remove your mouth and watch for possible breathing.
• If there is no result, repeat the cycle at a rate of 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
• Continue until breathing resumes or help arrives.

RESUSCITATING BABIES AND CHILDREN

WHAT TO DO

• Lay the child on his back and clear the airway.
• Tilt the Child’s head back slightly. Take a deep breath and seal your mouth over the child’s mouth and nose. Blow gently into the lungs
• Remove your mouth and watch for possible breathing.
• Repeat until breathing resumes or until medical help arrives

MOUTH-TO-NOSE RESPIRATION

Facial injuries may prevent you from breathing easily into the patient’s mouth.

WHAT TO DO

• Position the head backwards and open and clear the airway up
• Take a deep breath and seal your mouth around the patient’s nose. Hold patient’s mouth closed with one hand.
• Blow strongly into the nose four times.
• Remove your mouth and open the patient’s mouth so that air can escape.
• Repeat the cycle until breathing resumes or help arrives