RESUSCITATION
The Airway:
The airway is composed of the:
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Nose & Mouth
Pharynx (back of throat)
Larynx (Voice box)
Trachea (windpipe)
Bronchi (Tubes to each lung)
Bronchioles (smaller sections of the Bronchi)
Alveoli (air sacs)
When we breathe, air enters the lungs via the airway and reaches small
structures known as air sacs (alveoli). It is within these air sacs that oxygen and
carbon dioxide are exchanged.
Our body requires a constant supply of oxygen from the air and it also needs to
dispose of carbon dioxide which is a waste product.
Should the airway become blocked for any reason, brain cells will begin to
suffer damage due to lack of oxygen. This can rapidly lead to death of the
patient if the airway is not cleared.
AIRWAY AND BREATHING MANAGEMENT:
When an unconscious patient is lying on their back, gravity allows the jaw to
drop backwards and permits the tongue to block the airway. The airway will
also block if the head of an unconscious patient falls forward whilst sitting
upright.
ADULTS: To open an adult’s airway you must gently tilt the head backwards
and support the jaw at the point of the chin to open the mouth slightly
INFANTS/SMALL CHILDREN: Keep the head in a ‘neutral’/’horizontal’ position.
A slight head tilt may be necessary on some occasions in older children (larger
2-4yr olds) to achieve an open airway.
BREATHING:
*See Pulse & Breathing handout for normal breathing rates*
HOW TO CHECK FOR ‘NORMAL BREATHING’:
Check for normal breathing by: Looking – normal movement of chest or upper abdomen
 Listening – for breath sounds from patient’s mouth
 Feeling – for chest of upper abdomen movement
If not breathing normally, roll patient onto their back and give 2 breaths and
30 chest compressions
If breathing present, with a clear airway, roll patient into a Recovery Position,
monitor ABC’s and check for other injuries.
CPR
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
When it is discovered that a patient is not breathing normally, you need to give
them the best chance of recovery by initiating Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation,
CPR. It is a combination of rescue breaths and chest compressions.
CPR allows a patient’s blood to be oxygenated with the breathing and artificial
blood circulation with compressions until more advanced life support arrives
(Defibrillator)
It is vital that CPR begin as soon as possible.
Criteria needed to perform CPR:
The patient needs to be:
 Unconscious
 No signs of life
 Not breathing normally
Patient
Ratio of Compressions: Breaths
ADULT
CHILD
INFANT
30:2
30:2
30:2
 Watch “First Aid : Basic Life Support” on clickview