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What would you do if a friend suddenly had a heart attack and stopped breathing?
Accidents involving heart attack by drowning, electrocution, drug intoxication and suffocation happen daily in cities all over the world. Rescue breathing must be started immediately for a non-breathing victim of a heart attack. It is one of the most important procedures taught in first aid classes. For best results, you must understand the process fully to proceed automatically. Taking basic CPR and First Aid courses are highly recommended.
Resuscitation efforts need to begin at once, because brain damage occurs when an individual is without oxygen. If the victim is without oxygen for up to 4 minutes, but CPR has been started, it is unlikely brain damage will occur. Between 4-6 minutes, brain damage is possible. Between 6-10 minutes without oxygen brain damage is probable. After 10 minutes either severe brain damage or brain death is certain.
The most common practice of rescue breathing is mouth-to-mouth. So, following these guidelines for mouth-to mouth rescue breathing, can assist you in rescue breathing procedures in the event you would need to come to the aid of a non-breathing victim.
* If the victim is discovered motionless you will first need to check for responsiveness. If there is a possibility of a spine injury, do not move the victim unless it is absolutely necessary. Rather tap the victim’s shoulder and shout near their ear asking them if they are okay.
* If the victim is determined unresponsive, ask a bystander to call 911 for emergency medical attention. If you are alone, shout for help. If no one responds quickly to your call for help, call 911 immediately and then resume aid to the victim until emergency assistance arrives.
* Gently, roll the victim over onto their back, moving the victim’s head, body and legs at the same time to avoid causing further injury.
* Open the victim’s airway by your hand nearest the victim’s head, on the victim’s forehead and apply pressure to tilt their head back. Then place the fingers of your other hand under the bony part of the victim’s jaw, near their chin and lift. Do not press on the soft tissues under the jaw. Then tilt the head backward without allowing the victim’s mouth to close.
* Take three to five seconds to check for breathing by placing your ear over the victim’s mouth and nose while keeping their mouth open at all times. Watch the victim’s chest to see if is rising and falling. Listen and feel for breathing to determine if mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing is necessary.
* Keeping the head tilted in the backward position and the chin lifted to keep the airway open, pinch the nose shut. Take a deep breath and seal your lips tightly around the victim’s mouth. The give 2 slow breaths, each lasting 1 ½ to 2 seconds, taking in a breath after each breath is given.
* Watch the victim’s chest as you do this to see if your breath goes in and allow the chest to deflate after each breath. If the first breath does not go in, retilt the head and try again. If the second breath does not go in, suspect the victim may be choking. In this case you will need to use your CPR skills following the proper procedure for clearing a victim’s airway.
* Next you will want to check the victim’s pulse. To do this, maintain the head tilt with your hand nearest to the victim’s head on their forehead. Locate the victim’s Adam’s apple with 2 or 3 fingers on the opposite hand. Do not use your thumb, as you may feel your own pulse. Slide your fingers down into the grove just below the Adam’s apple, on the side closest to you. Feel for the carotid pulse for approximately 5-10 seconds. The carotid artery is used, because it is the closest artery to the heart.
* If there is a pulse, but the victim is still not breathing, give one rescue breath every 5 to 6 seconds. Keeping the head tilted in the backward position and chin lifted to keep the airway open, pinch the nose shut again. Take a deep breath and seal your lips tightly around the victim’s mouth. This time give 1 slow breaths, each lasting 1 ½ to 2 seconds, and taking in a breath after each breath is given. Every 10 to 12 breaths or after one minute stop and check the pulse. If thew victim is a child, you will want to 1 breath every 3 seconds lasting for 1 to 1 ½ seconds and check the pulse after 20 breaths.
* You will want to continue this procedure until either the victim begins breathing on his or her own or trained help arrives to relieve you, or you become completely exhausted.
If the victim does not have a pulse, you will need to administer CPR. It is highly recommended that you spend an hour or so be trained in the proper procedures for administering CPR, as well as rescue breathing and basic first aid. These classes are neither costly nor time consuming and will ensure that you are well prepared in the event of an emergency.
Even though mouth-to-mouth is the most common method of rescue breathing; there are other methods that can be administered for various circumstances. These methods area also taught by trained professionals in a basic CPR class.
Why not sign-up today for a CPR class? Someday, you may be glad you did!
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