Please choose a state
First Aid
Rescue Breathing
If a victim is not breathing they must be attended to immediately. Rescue breathing is used to maintain an airway and cause air to flow in and out of the lungs. Rescue breathing should be continued until the victim can breathe for themselves or a doctor or other trained person takes responsibility.
Thanks to Mickey S. Eisenberg, M.D., Ph.D. for permission to use this excellent work
If you believe someone is having a cardiac arrest, do not panic. Follow the six simple steps of CPR below and help save a life. Remember, these steps are to be used as a guide and a reminder. Please try to attend a CPR training course offered by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
Call 9-1-1.
Check the victim for unresponsiveness. If there is no response, call 911 and then return to the person.
How To Recognize Cardiac Arrest:
During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, the blood pressure falls to zero and the pulse disappears. Within 10 seconds of cardiac arrest, the person loses consciousness and becomes unresponsive. If you shake or shout at the victim, there will be no response.
Sometimes a person in cardiac arrest may make grunting, gasping or snoring type breathing sounds for a couple of minutes. Do not be confused by this abnormal type of breathing.
If a person is unresponsive (doesn't respond to shouts or shakes) and not breathing (or breathing abnormally) then call 911 and begin CPR.
Tilt head, lift chin: check breathing.
Position the person flat on his back. Kneel by his side and place one hand on the forehead and the other under the chin. Tilt the head back and lift the chin until teeth almost touch. Look and listen for breathing.
Abnormal Breathing
Remember a person in cardiac arrest may have abnormal breathing for a couple of minutes. This abnormal breathing is called agonal respiration and is the result of the brain's breathing center sending out signals even though circulation has ceased. The key point is that the abnormal breathing may sound like grunting, gasping or snoring. It disappears in 2-3 minutes. If you see this type of breathing DO NOT delay CPR. The person desperately needs air and only you can provide it.
Give two breaths.
If the person is not breathing normally, pinch the nose and cover the mouth with yours. Give two full breaths. The person's chest will rise if you are giving enough air. If the chest does not rise, open the person's mouth and check for obstructions in the throat.
Check pulse.
Put the fingertips of your hand on the Adam's apple, slide them into the groove next to the windpipe. Feel for a pulse. If you can not feel a pulse or are unsure, move on to the next step.
Checking The Pulse
Checking for a pulse is unnecessary in most situations of cardiac arrest. It is usually obvious when a person is in cardiac arrest and thus checking a pulse is not needed. Furthermore, determining whether a pulse is present is sometimes difficult for individuals. Therefore, if you are unsure about a pulse, proceed to the next step.
Position hands.
Position your hands in the center of the chest between the nipples. Place one hand on top of the other.
Pump 30 times.
Push down firmly two inches. Push on chest rapidly 30 times.
Pushing on the Chest
In general the chest should be pushed down 1-2 inches. Sometimes you may hear a cracking sound. Do not be alarmed. The sound is caused by cartilage or ribs cracking. Even if this occurs, the damage is not serious. The risk of delaying CPR or not doing CPR is far greater than the risk of a broken rib.
Continue with two breaths and 30 pumps until help arrives
| Previous Page | State:
Please choose a state |
Boating Basics Glossary