Breathing Emergencies When air cannot travel freely and easily into the lungs Lack of oxygen causes the heart to stop and thus causing blood to no longer flow Only takes 4-6 minutes for brain cells to start to die

Signals of Breathing Emergencies Trouble breathing Slow or rapid breathing Gasping for breath Flushed, pale, ashen or bluish skin color Shortness of breath Pain in the chest or tingling in hands, feet or lips (pg 47 for more)

Respiratory Distress and Respiratory Arrest Respiratory Distress is a condition in which breathing becomes difficult. (most common breathing emergency) Respiratory Arrest is a condition in which breathing stops

Respiratory Distress This can be caused by. . . Illness Electrocution Partially obstructed airway Heart attack Drugs Poisoning Injury to head, chest, lungs, abdomen

Time is Critical Tick. . . Tick. . . Tick. . . 0 minutes: Breathing stops. Heart will soon stop beating 4-6 minutes: Brain damage possible 6-10 minutes: Brain damage likely Over 10 minutes: Irreversible brain damage certain

Conditions that Cause Breathing Emergencies Asthma Emphysema Bronchitis Hyperventilation Allergic Reactions

Caring for Breathing Emergencies Person is breathing Too fast Slow Noisy Painful Call 9-1-1

Caring for Breathing Emergencies Trouble breathing Do not lye down Sitting up-right Communication Shake or nod head Yes or No questions

Caring for Breathing Emergencies Hyperventilating Generally caused by emotion Fear, Excitement Can resume normal breathing Calm Down Reassure them Call 9-1-1

Choking Airway has been partially or completely blocked by a foreign object Foreign Objects Food Small Toy Other ways of choking Swelling in mouth or throat Fluid (vomit, blood)

Universal Sign of Choking

Choking If the choking person is coughing forcefully let them try and cough up the object Encourage them to cough Call 9-1-1 if the object does not come up

Care for a Choking Emergency Partially blocked airway can very quickly become completely blocked Coughing weakly or making high pitched noises (not getting enough air)

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Airway completely blocked need immediate care Time is critical! Tick. . . Tick. . . Tick. . .

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Back Blows. . . Give a combination of 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts To give back blows, position yourself slightly behind the person Place one leg between there legs

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Back Blows. . . Provide support by placing one arm diagonally across the chest and lean the person forward Firmly strike the person with an open palm between the shoulders (angle up)

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Abdominal Thrusts Stand or kneel behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the middle of the abdomen just above the navel

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Abdominal Thrusts Grab your fist with your other hand and give quick, upward thrusts into the abdomen Continue back blows and abdominal thrusts until object is dislodged

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Chest Thrusts Only done when a person is too big or is pregnant Same as abdominal thrusts except for placement of hands

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Chest Thrusts Place your fist against the center of the breastbone Grab your fist with your other hand and give quick thrusts into the chest

Conscious Choking (Adult or Child) Alone Locate any firm object Back of a chair Kitchen sink, Railing DO NOT use anything sharp Use the object to give yourself abdominal thrusts

Conscious Choking (Infant) Back Blows Position infant face-up on your forearm Place your other hand on top of the infant, using your thumb and fingers to hold the infants jaw Turn the infant over (face down)

Conscious Choking (Infant) Back Blows Lower your arm onto your thigh Give 5 firm back blows using the heel of your hand between the shoulders Maintain and support the infants head and neck by firmly holding the jaw

Conscious Choking (Infant) Chest Thrusts Sandwich the infant between your forearms Turn the infant onto there back and support your arm on your thigh

Conscious Choking (Infant) Chest Thrusts Locate the correct place to give chest thrusts (T) Place the pads of two or three fingers and compress the breastbone Compress ½ to 1inch (5 chest thrusts)

Rescue Breathing for Children A. B. C.’s Pinch nose shut, take a breath Complete seal around there mouth with your mouth Breathe into the child until you see the chest rise

Rescue Breathing for Children Give 2 rescue breaths each lasting 1 sec. Pause between breathes (will let air flow out) Check pulse after 2 rescue breathes (no more than ten seconds)

Rescue Breathing for Infant A. B. C.’s Cover the nose and mouth with your mouth Give two rescue breaths until chest rises Pause between breaths

Rescue Breathing for Infant Check pulse by pressing your first two fingers against the bone on the inside of the upper arm Not breathing have pulse, continue rescue breaths 1 rescue breath every 3 seconds Check pulse every two minutes

Breathing Barriers Air in the Stomach Vomiting