Breathing Emergencies GASP Breathing Emergencies Victim has difficultystops

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