First Aid       Emergencies                         

Absence of Breathing  
If someone's breathing has stopped, mouth-to-mouth ventilation is needed.
Causes:
     Heart attacks, drowning, electric shocks, poisoning, suffocation, etc..

Indications:
  • No rise and fall chest movement.
    • 

  • The face becomes bluish-grey.

Adults

Mouth-To-Mouth Ventilation for Adults

1. Open and clear the airway by carefully removing any objects from mouth with your finger.
2. Place two fingers under the point of the chin and place your other hand on the victim's forehead. At the same time, lift the chin and gently tilt the head back.
3. Close the victim's nostrils, then take a deep breath and seal your mouth around his/her mouth. Blow into the mouth until his/her chest rises.

 

Mouth-to-mouth picture
4. Remove your mouth and allow the chest to fall. Give 10 breaths and then check the person's pulse. If the pulse is not present, CPR may be needed.
5. Continue the process at the rate of 10 breaths per minute.

Mouth-To-Nose Ventilation for Adults

It is needed when mouth is not easily breathed into.

1. Review steps 1 and 2 in Mouth-To-Mouth Ventilation.
2. Take a deep breath and seal your mouth around the victim's nose.
3. Cover the person's mouth and blow strongly into the nose.
4. Remove your mouth and open the person's mouth with your hand, holding it open to allow air to escape.
5. Continue the process at the rate of 10 breaths per minute.
nose-to-mouth

Children

Mouth-To-Mouth Ventilation for a Baby ( under 1 year of age)

1. Open airway and seal your lips around the baby's mouth and nose.
2. Blow gently (keep in mind that a baby's lungs are very tiny, so blow only the amount of air that you can hold in your cheeks into the baby's lungs). As you breathe out, look along the chest.
infant1

3. As you see the chest rise, stop blowing and allow the chest to fall again.
4. Give one breath every three seconds.
infant2
5. After every 20 breaths, check pulse. Continue mouth-to-mouth ventilation if pulse above 60 per minute. If it is lower than that , start CPR (see Absence of Heartbeat).
6. Continue giving mouth-to-mouth ventilation until help arrives.
infant3
 
Mouth-To-Mouth Ventilation for a Child (over 1 year of age)

1. Review steps 1 and 2 in Mouth-To-Mouth Ventilation for adults.
2. Blow gently (keep in mind a child's lungs are small, so take shallow breaths only). As you breath out, look along the chest.
3. When you see the child's chest rise, stop blowing. Allow the chest to fall again.
4. Give one breath every three seconds.

 mouth-child

5. After every 20 breaths, check pulse. If present, continue mouth-to-mouth ventilation.
If absent, start CPR (see Absence of Heartbeat).
6. Continue to give mouth-to-mouth ventilation until help arrives.