If
breathing and the heart stop, the person will die within a few minutes unless
first aid is administered at once. Here is an action list. Start with the first
step and follow each step in the order given. Act as quickly as you can, but
stay calm.
- Check if
the patient is conscious. Try to keep the patient awake. Shout "Are
you all right?" and gently shake the shoulders, but take care not to
make any injuries worse. Pinch the skin on the neck and watch the face. A
patient who is just sleeping will wake up, but an unconscious patient will
not.
- Open the
airway. The airway is the tube through which air passes from the mouth and
nose to the lungs. If it is blocked the patient cannot breathe and air
cannot get into or out of the lungs. A patient who cannot breathe will die
within 4 minutes. In an unconscious patient, the tongue may block the
throat and the airway.
- Make sure
the airway is open and air can get down the throat. Place the patient on
his/her back. Tilt the head back and lift the chin up with the finger and
thumb of one hand on the bony part of the chin, while pressing the
forehead back with the other hand. This will open the airway and stop the
tongue blocking the throat.
- Check
whether the patient is breathing after opening the airway; quickly check
whether the patient is breathing. Look for the belly or the chest moving
up and down. Feel the chest moving up and down. Feel the patient’s breathe
on your cheek. Listen for breath sounds. Put your ear close to the
patient’s mouth. Use all four checks. Remember that the chest may move up
and down even when the throat is completely blocked and air cannot get to
the lungs.
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