First Aid for Colleges and Universities 10 Edition Chapter 4 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Basic Life Support: Artificial Ventilation Slide Presentation prepared by Randall Benner, M.Ed., NREMT-P

Learning Objectives Describe the signs of respiratory distress. Explain the proper victim assessment for breathing problems. Describe how to open an airway of a victim who does not have spinal injury. Describe how to open an airway of a victim who you suspect does have spinal injury. Describe the process for assessing breathing rate and depth. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Learning Objectives Explain how to restore breathing through artificial ventilation. Adapt ventilation support procedures to infants and children. Identify an obstructed airway. Use the technique for dislodging foreign objects that are obstructing the airway of a conscious person. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Respiratory Distress The most common type of breathing problem is respiratory distress. Respiratory arrest is a true medical emergency. Common causes of respiratory arrest are electric shock, drowning, suffocation, toxic gas inhalation, head and chest injuries, heart problems, stroke, drug overdose, and allergic reactions. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Respiratory Distress: Signs and Symptoms Abnormal breathing patterns Unusual breathing noises Dizziness Chest pain Tingling in hands or feet Clammy skin Abnormal skin color © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Respiratory Distress: Signs and Symptoms © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Basic Life Support When oxygen is cut off to the lungs gradually the heart will stop beating, causing cardiac arrest. Basic Life Support (BLS) is a combination of first aid procedures necessary to sustain life in an emergency situation. First steps are to –Open the airway –Provide rescue breathing © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Victim Assessment Four basic steps –Determine the level of victim responsiveness. –Position the victim and open the airway. –Observe for signs of life and determine rate and depth of breathing. –Activate the EMS system. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Victim Assessment If you do not suspect cervical spinal injury, use the Head-tilt/Chin-lift maneuver. If you do suspect cervical spinal injury, use the Jaw-thrust maneuver. Assess the victim’s rate and depth of breathing; if adequate, place them in the recovery (modified HAINES) position. If not, prepare to perform chest compressions and rescue breathing. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Head-tilt/Chin-lift Maneuver © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Jaw-thrust Maneuver © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Types of Rescue Breathing Mouth-to-mouth ventilation Mouth-to-barrier ventilation Mouth-to-nose ventilation Mouth-to-stoma ventilation (a stoma is a small surgical opening in the neck) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Rescue Breathing: Special Issues Gastric distention: occurs most often in children and victims with obstructed airways who have been breathed into too forcefully. Infants and children require you to adapt procedures to their anatomy and capacity. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Rescue Breathing: Special Issues Infants and children –Infants and children should receive one minute of first aid care before activating the EMS system, when First Aider is acting alone. –If the victim is an infant or small child, seal both their mouth and nose with your mouth, deliver breaths more often, and use less force. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Ventilating an Infant © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Obstructed Airways Emergencies Airway obstructions can be partial or complete. If partial, the victim will be able to cough/breathe. Watch for these signs of partial obstruction –Weak cough –High-pitched wheezing –Increased strain while breathing –Clutching at the throat –Slight cyanosis (blueness) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Obstructed Airways Emergencies Signs of complete airway obstruction are –Inability to speak, groan, cough, or cry out –Absence of breath sounds –Labored use of muscles used in breathing –Progressive restlessness, anxiety, and confusion –Unresponsiveness If you suspect complete obstruction, attempt for about two minutes to clear the airway, then activate EMS. Be prepared to give first aid. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Obstructed Airways Emergencies There are two main techniques used for conscious adult or older-child victims –Back blows (never to be used on infants or young children) –Abdominal thrusts (also called the Heimlich maneuver) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Abdominal Thrusts © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Obstructed Airways Emergencies There are numerous and varying techniques for the following circumstances – Victims who are, or become, unconscious – Victims who are pregnant or obese – Victims who are infants – All of these circumstances require specialized treatments. Review text pages 61 through 64, and Figures 4.12 through 4.25, for details. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Summary Basic life support (BLS) describes the first aid procedures necessary to sustain life in an emergency. Victim assessment is the crucial first step of BLS. If you do not suspect spine injury, open airways using the head-tilt, chin-life maneuver. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Summary If you suspect spine injury, open airways using the jaw-thrust maneuver. A victim with occasional gasping and ineffective breathing should be considered as having no breathing at all. For adult victims, activate the EMS system immediately, before beginning any rescue procedures, if you are acting alone. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Summary Infants and children should receive one minute of first aid care before activating the EMS system, when acting alone. If the victim is an infant or small child, seal both their mouth and nose with your mouth, deliver breaths more often, and use less force. Perform the Heimlich maneuver only if there is complete obstruction of the airway and the victim cannot speak, cough, groan, or cry out. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.