Why time is critical…
0 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.
Distress vs. Arrest
Respiratory distress – a condition in which breathing becomes difficult
Respiratory arrest – occurs when breathing stops
Normal breathing is regular, quiet and effortless. A person does not appear to be working hard or struggling.
Signs and Symptoms of Respiratory Distress Slow or rapid breathing
Gasping Wheezing, high pitched noises Gurgling Skin is moist or cool, flushed, pale, ashen, or
bluish Victim feels dizzy or lightheaded Victim feels apprehensive or fearful
Normal Breathing in Children and Infants Normal breathing rates in children and infants
are faster than normal breathing rates in adults.
Infants have periodic breathing, changes in breathing patterns are normal for infants.
Breathing emergencies can be caused by - Choking Illness Chronic conditions, such as asthma Electrocution Heart attack or irregular heartbeat Injury to the head, chest, or lungs Allergic reactions Drug overdose Drowning Emotional distress
Asthma
Inflammation of the air passages that results in temporary narrowing of the airways.
Asthma is the third ranking cause of hospitalization among those younger than 15 years.
Asthma attacks are often recognoized by the wheezing or whistling sound that is made when exhaling.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is a long term lung disease
encompassing both chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Airways become partly blocked and the air sacs in the lungs lose their ability to fill with air.
There is no cure and it worsens over time. The most common cause of COPD is
smoking.
Emphysema & Bronchitis
Emphysema is a disease that involves damage to the air sacs. Exhaling is extremely difficult.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages. To be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, a person must have a cough with mucus on most days of the month for at least 3 months.
Hyperventilation
Occurs when a person’s breathing is faster and more shallow than normal.
Often results from fear or anxiety and usually occurs in people who are tense and nervous.
Also caused by- Head injuries Severe bleeding Asthma Exercise
Allergic Reactions An allergic reaction is the response of the
immune system to a foreign substance that enters the body.
A severe allergic reaction can cause a condition called anaphylactic shock.
Signals include – Rash Tightness of chest and throat Swelling of face, neck and tongue Person may feel dizzy or confused
Croup
A harsh, repetitive cough that most commonly affects children younger than 5 years.
Cough can range from high pitched wheeze to a barking cough.
Croup mostly occurs during the evening or nighttime.
Epiglottitis
Infection causing severe swelling of the epiglottis.
When it swells it can block the airway. Most common in children between 2 and 6
years of age. Hib vaccine has helped decrease the number
of cases.
Care for Respiratory Distress Call 9-1-1. Help the person rest in a comfortable
position. If the person is having a hard time talking
have them nod or shake their head to answer questions.
If a bystander is present and can answer questions about the victim, ask the bystander instead.
Try to calm the victim.
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.
Causes of Choking in Adults
Trying to swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food
Drinking alcohol before or during meals Wearing dentures Eating while talking excitedly or laughing Eating too fast Walking, playing or running with food or
objects in the mouth
Choking in Children & Infants
Common cause of injury and death in children younger than 5 years.
Children should not be given hard, smooth foods such as raw vegetables until they are 4 years old. No peanuts until 7 years or older.
Food should be chopped into pieces no larger than ½ inch.
Signals of choking -
Coughing, either forcefully or weakly Clutching the throat Can’t cough, speak, cry or breathe High pitched noises Panic Bluish skin color Loss of consciousness
Care for a Conscious Choking Adult or Child Give five back blows and five abdominal
thrusts until the object is dislodged and the person can breathe or becomes unconscious.
Care for a Conscious Choking Infant Give five back blows and five chest thrusts
until the object is forced out, the infant begins to breathe on his or her own or the infant becomes unconscious.
Care for an Unconscious Choking
Adult or Child This care would be given –
During your check for life threatening conditions, when an unconscious person is not breathing and the rescue breaths do not go in.
When a conscious choking person becomes unconscious.
Care for an Unconscious Choking
Adult or Child After your initial check, when your first two rescue breaths do not go in, re-tilt the head and try another breath again.
If your breaths still do not go in, you are going to perform a modified CPR technique.
Care for an Unconscious Choking
Adult or Child Locate the correct hand position. Compress the victim’s chest 30 times in about 18 seconds.
Chest compression depth – 2 inches Look for a foreign object, if you see an object, sweep it out. Give 2 rescue breaths. If your breaths do not go in, repeat chest compressions until –
The object is removed and the chest rises with rescue breaths. The person starts to breath on their own. Another trained responder arrives. You are too exhausted to continue. The scene becomes unsafe.