ABC’s of Life
A = Airway, B = Breathing, C = Circulation
Breathing: While maintaining an open airway, lower your head down and LOOK at the victims chest, LISTEN for coming out the victims mouth and nose, and FEEL for movement on the victims chest. You should Look, Listen, and Feel for 5 to 10 seconds. If the victim is NOT breathing you should consider giving two rescue breaths.
Rescue breaths are the process of giving artificial breathing to someone who isn’t breathing on their own. When giving rescue breathing, give just enough air (volume) to see the chest rise. Giving too much volume may cause harm to the victim. Simply think of lungs as nothing more than balloons. If you over inflate/hyperventilate a balloon it pops; the same is true with a human lung.
Rescue breaths can be given Mouth to Mouth, Mouth to Mask, or with a BVM or Bag Valve Mask.
In addition to causing injury to the lung over inflation and hyperventilation may cause air to enter the stomach which may induce or cause vomiting. Vomiting is dangerous as it may lead to aspiration and development of pneumonia if the victim survives.
Next: Mouth to Mouth
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Matthew A. Carter is the Lead Developer and Editor of FirstAidReference.com. Matt is an Emergency Medical Technician and nationally recognized EMS Educator & CPR Instructor. He has extensive public safety experience and has trained and certified thousands of individuals in the topics of CPR, First Aid, and Emergency Medical Services working across the United States.
CPR – Opening the Airway at First Aid: Online First Aid and CPR Information by First Aid Reference – First Aid Guide says:
[...] Next: Breathing (Assessment & Rescue Breathing) [...]
Posted on September 17, 2010 at 10:15 pm.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Guide at First Aid: Online First Aid and CPR Information by First Aid Reference – First Aid Guide says:
[...] Assess Victim (Tap and Shout) Call 911 / Get Additional Resources Airway: Open the Victims Airway Breathing: Assess / Provide Breathing Breathing: Mouth to Mouth Breathing: Mouth to Mask Circulation: Chest Compressions Circulation: [...]
Posted on September 17, 2010 at 10:40 pm.