Breathing Emergencies

1. Breathing Emergencies

2. What are the parts? • Nose • Mouth • Tongue • Epiglottis • Trachea

4. Remember…If you do nothing else

5. Normal Breathing • Quiet and Effortless • No sign of discomfort or struggle • Not too slow or too fast • Children and Infants: Breathing is faster Respiratory Distress • Breathing is difficult, but still occurring • If left untreated, may lead to Arrest

6. Causes of Respiratory Distress & Arrest • Choking • Illness • Chronic Conditions – Asthma • Electrocution • Irregular Heartbeat • Heart Attack • Injury – Head, Neck, Chest, Lungs, Abdomen • Allergic Reaction • Drugs & Alcohol - Overdose

7. Causes of Respiratory Distress & Arrest • Poisoning • Emotional Distress • Drowning

8. Asthma • Inflammation of the air passages resulting in a temporary narrowing of the airways. • Can be sudden onset – cold air, allergens, etc. • Usually hear wheezing, or whistling sound • People with diagnosed condition - Inhaler

9. COPD • Chronic – long term lung disease – chronic bronchitis and emphysema. • Excessive cough – lots of mucus • Tire easily • Fast Pulse • Round, Barrel-shaped chest • Confusion

10. COPD • Emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs • Typically found in smokers – middle to older age • Shortness of breath – very difficult to exhale

11. COPD • Bronchitis – inflammation of the main air passages – acute / chronic. • Chest discomfort • Fatigue – Excessive coughing • Shortness of breath – worse with activity • Swelling of ankles and feet – fluid retention • Frequent respiratory infections / colds

12. Hyperventilation • Faster than normal breathing, shallow breaths – reduces the oxygen intake • Emotional factors – stress / anxiety • Can be caused by injury, illness, etc. • Body increases the respiration rate • Less oxygen, more CO2 in body

13. Allergic Reactions • Response of the body’s immune system to a foreign substance – environmental, food, meds • Tightness in chest • Swelling of body parts – especially airway • Severe reactions can cause swelling to the point of cutting off air supply

14. What to look for • You don’t need to be overly concerned with why, just what: • Trouble breathing or not breathing • Slow / Rapid rate • Gasping • Wheezing, Gurgling • Moist / Cool skin • Bluish lips / skin / nail beds • Chest pain

15. What to do while you wait Call 911 IMMEDIATELY – Or the wait is much longer Help the person find a comfortable position, usually sitting up, laying down can make it worse If conscious – check for other conditions Try to reassure to calm anxiety Question bystanders – if they know the person, what were they doing, etc. Hyperventilating – Reassure, talk calmly, monitor their condition closely.

16. What to do while you wait Call 911 IMMEDIATELY – Or the wait is much longer Un-conscious adult? – Most likely cardiac – begin CPR immediately (We’ll cover this later) If you know it is respiratory related – drowning, drug overdose, etc. – 2 Rescue Breaths, quick scan for bleeding, then CPR For children and infants – 2 Rescue Breaths, quick scan for bleeding, then CPR

17. Choking Common breathing emergency – especially in young children and infants Causes: Poorly chewed food Alcohol overdose (especially during meals – dulls the nerves that aid in swallowing) Dentures Eating while talking, laughing, etc. Walking / playing with food or objects in the mouth

18. Choking in Children & Infants Everything goes in the mouth – EVERYTHING Most common foods kids choke on: Hot dogs Grapes Popcorn Gooey, Sticky, hard candy Vitamins Chewing Gum

19. Choking in Children & Infants Everything goes in the mouth – EVERYTHING Most common non-food items kids choke on: Baby Powder Trash Contents Safety Pins Coins Marbles Pen / Marker Lids Button Batteries

20. What to look for • Signs of choking: • Coughing • Clutching throat – Universal sign • Inability to cough or speak • High-Pitched noisy breathing • Panic • Blue skin • Losing consciousness

21. Universal sign for choking

22. What to do while you wait Call 911 IMMEDIATELY – Or the wait is much longer If coughing – encourage them to keep coughing If no air movement – but conscious get consent Begin Backblows / Abdominal Thrusts – 5:5

23. Backblows & Abdominal Thrusts

24. Backblows & Abdominal Thrusts

25. What about “Fluffy” People?

26. How long? Continue alternating between back blows and abdominal thrusts until: The object is free and the person is no longer choking The person loses consciousness

27. Conscious choking infant

28. Conscious choking infant

29. Adult / Child – Now they’re unconscious • Lower them to the ground – gently • Face up • Open the mouth and look, sweep out a foreign object if you see one– no probing! • Head Tilt / Chin Lift – 2 Rescue Breaths • If they don’t go in, reposition the head and try again

30. Adult / Child – Now they’re unconscious • Still didn’t go in, give 30 chest compressions • Open the mouth, look and sweep if you see it • Try 2 rescue breaths again • Didn’t go in, reposition, and try again • Didn’t go in – continue chest compressions

31. How long? Continue this cycle until: The object comes out and the chest clearly rises with each rescue breath The person begins to breathe on their own Someone trained equally or higher arrives and takes over You become too exhausted to continue Scene becomes unsafe

32. Unconscious Infant Lay the infant on a firm flat surface – counter top or table are best Immediately begin 30 chest compressions Open airway and look, remove if you see it, if not: Try 2 rescue breaths, if they don’t go in, reposition and try again Still won’t begin another cycle of compressions

33. Let’s practice Get into groups of 3 Victim, Rescuer, Bystander Practice conscious choking adult / child Rotate after 2 cycles of Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts Skill sheets for this practical are on the website: www.dereksplace.org

34. Questions? I have ADD…I don’t remember what was on the second slide www.dereksplace.org