Breathing Emergencies Study Guide
Breathing Emergencies:
1. Blocked or obstructed airway (choking) 2. Emphysema/Asthma/Hyperventilation
3. Electrocution
4. Shock
5. Drowning
6. Heart Attack
7. Injury to head, chest, or lungs
8. Allergic reaction- Anaphylaxis
9. Drug overdose
10. Inhaling or ingesting toxic substances
Respiratory arrest is when breathing stops. Respiratory distress is a condition in which breathing is
difficult and occurs during injuries or sometimes when someone is excited or anxious
Signs and Signals or Respiratory Distress
1. Abnormal breathing
a. Slow or rapid b. Unusually deep or shallow
c. Gasping for breath
d. Wheezing
e. High pitched noises
2. Skin
a. Moist and cool b. Pale or blue
3. Victim is experiencing:
a. Dizziness
b. Pain or tingly c. Shortness of breath
What should I do to help an unconscious victim during an emergency?
-Tap and shout “Are you okay?”
- Ask Someone to call “911” or do it yourself
-Check for breathing for five-ten seconds looking, listening, and feeling for breathing
-If person is not breathing, roll person on back if they are not yet there
-Open airway with a tilt head/ chin lift
-Perform CPR till EMS arrives
-If the person is breathing, do a head to toe exam and check for severe bleeding (spurting, blood soaked
clothes)
-Apply direct pressure to wounds if there is severe bleeding
What should I do to help a conscious victim with an injury?
1. Introduce self and get consent – “I am Mr. Philson, I am trained in first aid. Is it ok for me to
provide you with first?”
2. Interview the person
a. What is your name?
b. What happened?
c. Do you feel pain or discomfort anywhere?
d. Do you have any allergies?
e. Do you have any medical conditions or are you taking
any medication?
3. Perform a head to toe examination- tell them that you are going to perform the examination
a. Do you have any pain?
b. Look for cuts, bumps, bleeding
c. Notice if the person is dizzy, drowsy, confused, nauseous, etc.
d. Look to see if skin color is normal and check skin temperature
e. Look at scalp, face, ears, eyes, nose, and mouth to see if any cuts are visible
f. Look for medical tag alert
4. Check to see if the victim can you move/bend body parts (leg, arm, hand, toes, head)
a. If victim can move all body parts, help person stand up
b. If the person is severely bleeding, rest the victim comfortably and elevate any severely
bleeding wounds
c. If victim is experiencing pain or no movement in a particular body part, have victim rest
comfortably
5. Determine whether to take the victim to the hospital or call 911 depending on the severity of
the injury or injuries