The
victim may stop breathing for a number of reasons (i.e.
drowning, electric shock, heart failure, poisoning, or suffocation).
The flow of oxygen throughout the body stops within a matter
of minutes if a person's respiratory system fails. Heart
failure, brain damage, and eventual death will result if
the victim's breathing cannot be restarted.
Before
you begin rescue breathing, be certain that the victim has
actually stopped breathing.
1. Kneel beside the victim, place your ear near his nose
and mouth, and watch his chest carefully. You should feel
and hear the breaths and see his chest rise and fall if
he is breathing.
IF HE IS NOT BREATHING:
1. Provide an open airway. Carefully place the victim on
his back and open his mouth. If any material is blocking
the airway, it must be cleared out.
2. Tilt the victim's head back by placing the heel of one
hand on his forehead and the other hand under the bony part
of his chin to lift it slightly.
3. Straddle his thighs, placing one palm slightly above
the navel but well below the breastbone. Cover this hand
with the other and interlace the fingers.
4. Without bending your elbows, press sharply on the victim's
abdomen 6-10 times.
5. Turn the victim's head to one side and sweep out any
contents in his mouth with your fingers.
6. If the victim's breathing is not restored after removing
the object, reposition his head in the head-tilt/chin-lift
position and continue breathing for him as long as is necessary
or until help arrives.
7. If there are no signs of breathing, pinch the victim's
nostrils closed. Seal your mouth over the victim's mouth
and blow two full breaths. A rising chest indicates that
air is reaching the lungs. If the stomach is expanding instead,
the victim's neck and jaw are positioned improperly. Gently
push on the victim's abdomen with the palm of your hand
until the air is expelled, because the extra air in the
stomach may cause vomiting.
8. Look, listen, and feel again for signs of breathing.
If the victim is still not breathing on his own, contnue
blowing into his mouth one breath every five seconds until
help arrives.
CHILDREN
(1 - 8 YEARS):
Same as for an adult. When performing CPR on a child ,
keep in mind that the lung capacity of a child is far
less than that of an adult. Use less pressure in chest
compressions (press one to one-half inches into chest)
and less force in when rescue breathing (enough to see
the chest rise). Give 2 slow, thorough breaths, with a
pause in between. (Note: An adult's lungs are much larger
than a child's, so use small breaths and blow just enough
to make the child's chest rise.) .
INFANTS:
If you are working with infants (under 1 year), position
your mouth so that you can blow through the child's nose
and mouth at the same time. Give two puffs, using your
mouth and cheeks for breathing air into the infant's lungs
(to keep from overinflating the lungs). Administer one
breath every 3-4 seconds.
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