Breathing Emergencies

Part 3: Chapter 6
 What is breathing?
• This is the
process which
oxygen is
transferred into
your blood

The Basic’s
• The oxygen is
then carried
throughout
your body
• Without oxygen
the body would
shut down and
cease to work
Breathing Emergencies
• 2 types:
▫ Respiratory Distress
 A condition in which breathing is difficult
▫ Respiratory Arrest
 A condition in which breathing stops
Respiratory Distress (RD)

• Most common:
▫ Partially blocked
airway
▫ Illness
▫ Chronic conditions
 Emphysema
 Asthma
▫ Electrocution
▫ Heart attacks
▫ Injury (head, lungs or
abdomen)
▫ Allegoric Reactions
▫ Drugs Poisoning
▫ Emotional distress
Signs of RD
• Victim may….
▫ Have trouble catching their breath or grasp for air
▫ Breathe faster or slower than normal
Victim may…
▫ Breaths may
become shallow
or deep
▫ They may make
unusual noises
 Wheezing,
gurgling or high
pitched sounds
like crowing
Victim may…
▫ Skin appearance
 Unusually moist,
flushed, pale
▫ Temperature could
drop
 They may feel
cool
Chronic conditions
Asthma
• Narrows the air
passages
▫ Makes
breathing
difficult
• During an attack:
▫ Passages
constrict or
narrow as a
result of a
spasm
Emphysema

• Disease in which the

lungs and alveoli lose
their ability to
exchange CO2 and
oxygen effectively
• This disease worsens
over time
More Conditions
• Bronchitis
▫ Caused from smoking and other irritants
▫ Results from an inflammation of the lining of the
trachea, bronchi and bronchioles
▫ This cause a build up of mucus which obstructs air
exchange in the lungs
• Anaphylactic Shock
▫ Caused from a severe allergic reaction
 Bee sting, foods, other allergens or certain medications
▫ Air passages swell and restricts victims breathing
▫ Could be life-threatening if not treated immediately
More Conditions
• Hyperventilation
▫ Can results from fear or anxiety
▫ May be caused by head injuries, severe bleeding or
illnesses such as high fever, heart failure, lung
disease or diabetic emergency
▫ Likely to occur in people who are tense and
nervous
▫ A person may feel like they are suffocating
 Some become fearful and apprehensive
Care for a RD
• Check
▫ The scene to ensure of your safety
▫ If the victim is conscious
▫ Check for other life-threatening causes
• Call
▫ 9-1-1
• Care
▫ Help the victim rest in a comfortable position
▫ Loosen any tight clothing (necktie etc)
▫ Open a door or window for fresh air
▫ Interview the victim
▫ Continue to monitor and reassure the victim
▫ Assist them in any way possible
Special Considerations (Children)
• Signals
▫ Agitation
▫ Unusually fast or slow breathing
▫ Drowsiness
▫ Noisy breathing
▫ Pale, ashen, flushed or bluish skin color
▫ Breathing trouble increases
▫ Altered level of consciousness
▫ Increased heart rate
Common Illnesses
Croup Epiglottitis
• Viral infection • Bacterial infection
• Causes swelling of the tissues • Causes a severe inflammation
around the vocal cords of the epiglottis
• Often preceded by 1-2 days of • When this swells it can
completely block the airway
illness, sometimes a fever
• The child will appear ill and
• Cough that sounds like the have a high fever with a sore
bark of a seal throat
• Often the child will be sitting
up straining to breath
• Child may be drooling more
than usual
Airway Obstruction – Conscious Victim
• Airway obstruction (Most Common)
▫ 2 types:
 Anatomical – airway is blocked by the tongue or
swollen tissue of the mouth or throat.
 May have resulted from an injury to the neck or from
anaphylaxis
 Mechanical – airway is partially or completely
blocked by a foreign object (piece of food or small
toy, or by fluid such as vomit or blood)
Some common causes of Airway Obstruction
• Trying to swallow
large pieces of
poorly chewed food
• Drinking alcohol
before or during
meals.
▫ Alcohol dulls the
nerves that aid
swallowing, making
choking on food
more likely
Some common causes cont…
• Wearing dentures
▫ Dentures make it difficult
for a wearer to sense
whether food is fully
chewed before swallowing
• Eating while talking
excitedly or laughing or
eating too fast
• Walking, playing or
running with food or
objects in the mouth
• These victims can still
move air to and from Partial Airway Obstruction
their lungs
• Encourage the victim to
cough. This may help
dislodge the blockage
• *If coughing does not
improve or gets worse
take action(see complete
airway obstruction)
Complete Airway Obstruction
• When an object is completely blocking the flow
of air into the lungs
• Give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal
thrust
Abdominal Thrust
Hand position:
- Place the thumbs against the
middle of the victims abdomen ,
just above the navel and well
below the breastbone
What do You do???
• Choking alone
▫ 2 techniques for abdominal thrusts
 Make a fist with 1 hand, and place the thumb side on
the middle of your abdomen slightly above your
navel and below your breastbone. Grasp your fist
with your other hand and give quick, upward thrusts
 Use a chair, railing or a sink to help give you thrusts
Abdominal Thrusts for Adult
• Hand Position- Below the breastbone and above the
navel
• 5back blows, 5 abdominal thrusts
• If alone- use chair, railing, or sink to help with thrusts
Abdominal thrusts for Child
• Get on their level
• Follow same as adult
Back blows for Infant
1. Sandwich the infant between your forearms. Support
the infants head and neck by holding the jaw
between your thumb and forefingers
2. Turn the infant over so that it’s facedown in your
forearm. Give 5 firm back blows with the heel of your
hand while supporting the arm that is holding the
infant on your thigh
Chest Thrusts for Infant
1. Chest thrusts:
1. Sandwich the infant between your forearm . Continue to
support the infants head. Turn the infant onto it’s back and
support your arm on your thigh. The infants head should be
lower than the chest
2. Give 5 chest thrust
Back blows Chest Thrust
Conscious Infant
• Look to see what they are choking on
• They can easily swallow small objects which can
block their airway
▫ Pennies, beads, parts of toys
• Make sure to follow proper support techniques
 Conscious to Unconscious
Adult Infant
• Once the victim has become • Lay the child down
unconscious bring them to the • 2 rescue breaths
floor ▫ Watch the chest to see if
• 2 rescue breaths they went in
▫ Check to see if the breathes • If they did not go in give 30
went in by checking if the chest compressions
chest raised • Check to see if the object is
• If they did not go in give 30 now visible
chest compressions ▫ Finger sweep the object out
• If not continue with 2 rescue
breaths and compression
sequence
Respiratory Arrest
• Breathing stops
• Signs
▫ Absence of breathing (dead give-away)
▫ Skin color (ashen or cyanotic)
• Begin rescue breathing
Rescue Breathing for a Child
• Use less air than you would with an adult
• DO NOT tilt head and chin back only far
enough to get the air in
• 1 breath every 3 seconds
▫ Each breath should only last 1 second
Rescue Breathing for an Infant
• Cover both the nose and mouth with your mouth
• 1 breath every 3 seconds
• Each breath should last about 1 second
• Breath only until you see the chest rise
• DO NOT over-inflate the lungs
• Recheck for signs of life ~2 minutes
Breathing Barriers
Resuscitation mask Face shield
When to Stop
• The scene becomes unsafe
• The victim begins to breathe in his or her own
• Another trained person takes over for you
• EMS personnel arrive on the scene and take over
• You are too exhausted to continue