Breathing Emergencies GASP!!!

Breathing Emergencies Victim has difficulty/stops breathing Caused by: Drowning Obstructed airway (choking) Heart attack Shock Emotional distress Allergic reactions Drugs Injury to head/lungs/abdomen

Breathing Emergencies A victim who is having trouble breathing is in Respiratory Distress –Slow/rapid breathing –Deep/shallow breathing –Increased heart rate –Flushed/pale/ashen skin –Moist/pale skin –Tingling in hands/feet –Gasping for breath *Can turn into respiratory arrest/failure*

How to Care for Respiratory Distress Summon EMS personnel Help victim rest in a comfortable position Reassure/comfort the victim Administer emergency oxygen, if trained to do so. Keep victim from getting chilled/overheated

Rescue Breathing When do I do rescue breathing? A victim has a pulse, but is NOT breathing!

DVD Segment: Rescue Breathing

Rescue Breathing When do I STOP rescue breathing? - Victim begins to breath on his own - Another trained rescuer arrives and takes over - The victim loses his pulse (start CPR) - Scene becomes unsafe

Rescue Breathing How do I perform rescue breathing? Position rescue mask Tilt head/lift the chin to open airway Each breath should last one second, make the chest clearly rise!

Rescue Breathing Adult: One breath every 5 seconds Child: One breath every 3 seconds Infant: One breath every 3 seconds

Rescue Breathing Continue rescue breathing for 2 minutes! Remove mask and look for movement and recheck breathing for no more than 10 seconds!

DVD Segment: Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator

Airway Obstruction Most common cause of respiratory emergencies Can be anatomical (tongue, swollen tissue) or mechanical (foreign object) Can be partially obstructed (wheezing sounds) or completely obstructed (can’t make any sound at all Conscious victim who is clutching his throat with one or both hands is usually choking (universal sign of choking) Make sure you get consent

Obstructed Airway - Conscious How do I do this? –Get consent –Encourage them to continue coughing –If they stop talking, call EMS.

Conscious Choking Infant If infant cannot cough, cry or breath, call EMS Carefully position infant face-down along your forearm Give 5 back blows with the heel of your hand Turn infant over and give 5 chest thrusts Place 2 to 3 fingers on the center of the chest Compress chest ½ to 1 inch Keep going until: 1. Object comes out 2. Infant begins to cough/cry/breathe 3.. Becomes unconscious

Obstructed Airway - Conscious Lean victim forward Give 5 back blows with the heal of you hand Give 5 abdominal thrusts Continue until object comes out or they pass out

Airway Obstruction – Unconscious Adult/Child If you initial two breaths do not go in, re-tilt the head and try two more breaths. If they still do not go in (make the chest clearly rise) give 5 chest thrusts Place on head on the center of the chest For an adult, compress 1 ½ to 2 inches For a child, compress chest 1 to 1 ½ inches

Airway Obstruction – Unconscious Adult/Child Look inside victim’s mouth If you see the object, remove it with your finger Replace the mask and give 2 rescue breaths. If they don’t go in, repeat the cycle of chest thrusts, object check and breaths

Unconscious Choking Infant If breaths do not go in, reposition and try again If they still don’t go in, begin a cycle of 5 chest thrusts/5 back blows Check for object Give breaths

DVD Segment: Airway Obstruction