1. When Seconds Count
Chapter 4

2. Breathing Emergency
If alone and a person is not breathing, doesn’t have a history of heart problems, collapse was unwitnessed:
Care First
Give care for 2 minutes before calling 9-1-1
If alone and have to leave the person:
Place in a recovery position

3. Recovery Position Benefits of the recovery position:
Help the airway remain open
Clear if vomiting occurs
Showing signs of loss of circulation in recovery position:
(pale, ashen or grayish skin that is cool to the touch)
Turn person to the opposite side

4. The Breathing Process
When you breathe through your nose & mouth, air travels down your throat, through your windpipe and into your lungs
Pathway is called the airway
Airway must be open in order for air to reach the lungs
When air reaches the lungs, oxygen in the air is transferred to the blood
The heart pumps the blood through the body
The blood flows through the blood vessels, taking to the oxygen to the brain & heart, & other parts of the body

5. Why Time is Critical 0 minutes 4-6 minutes 6-10 minutes
Breathing stops. Heart will soon stop beating.
4-6 minutes
Brain damage possible
6-10 minutes
Brain damage likely
Over 10 minutes
Irreversible brain damage certain

6. Respiratory Distress & Respiratory Arrest
Breathing emergency:
Breathing problem so severe that it threatens a person’s life
Respiratory distress:
Breathing becomes difficult
Most common breathing emergency
Respiratory arrest:
Breathing stops

7. Causes of Respiratory Distress
A partially obstructed airway
Illness
Chronic conditions such as asthma
Electrocution
Heart attack
Injury to the head, chest, lungs or abdomen
Allergic reactions
Drugs
Poisoning
Emotional distress

8. Conditions that Cause Breathing Emergencies
In groups of 2-3, you will be given a condition that causes breathing emergencies.
Asthma
Emphysema
Bronchitis
Hyperventilation
Allergic reactions
You must create a handout to present to class which includes:
Definition of condition
Causes
How many people affected by condition
Signs condition is occurring
How to care for someone with condition

9. Caring for Breathing Emergencies
Call 9-1-1
Help the person rest in a comfortable position
Sitting generally better than lying down
Breathing is easier in that position
If person cannot talk, have person nod/shake their head to yes/no questions
Reassure the person
Reduce anxiety
Ask bystander if they know about the person’s condition

10. Choking
Choking occurs when a person’s airway has been blocked by a foreign object, swelling in the mouth or throat, or by fluids such as vomit or water.

11. Care for a Conscious Choking Adult or Child
Act at once!
Have bystander call while you give care
Give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts

12. Conscious Choking Adult Video
Write down how to effectively give back blows and abdominal thrusts

13. Special Situations If person is too big for you to reach around:
Give chest thrusts instead
If alone and choking:
Press your abdomen against any firm object
Alternatively, give yourself abdominal thrusts
Choking victim in a wheelchair:
Give abdominal thrusts

14. Conscious Choking Infant
If conscious infant cannot cough, cry or breath:
Give 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts

15. Conscious Choking Infant Video
Write down the proper procedure for giving an infant back blows and chest thrusts

16. Rescue Breathing for Children
When a child stops breathing, you have to breathe for them
Rescue Breathing

17. Rescue Breathing for Child clip
Write down all of the steps in giving rescue breaths for a child

18. Breathing Barriers
Helps protect you from contact with blood and other body fluids, as well as from breathing in the air that the person exhales.
Examples include face shields resuscitation masks

19. Special Situations –Rescue Breathing
Air in the stomach
Happens if breathe too long, too hard, or don’t open the airway far enough
Can make a person vomit & cause complications
Vomiting
Roll the person onto one side and wipe the mouth clean
Use a protective barrier when cleaning out the mouth
Once you’ve cleared away the vomit, roll the person back on their back and continue rescue breathing if necessary

20. Special Situations –Rescue Breathing
Submersion victims
Give 2 minutes of care before calling 9-1-1
Get help from a trained responder to get person out of water quickly and safety
Head, neck and back injuries
Try to minimize movement of the head & neck when opening the airway
Tilt the head & life the chin to open the airway

21. Chapter 4 Review