Major First Aid Techniques

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Skilled First Aiders can save lives by maintaining a casualty's vital needs. The ABC rule will help you identify these things: A - An Open AirWay B - Adequate Breathing C - Sufficient Circulation A - Opening The Airway If the casualty is unconscious, the airway may be narrowed or blocked making breathing noisy or impossible. This occurs for several reasons: - the head may tilt forward narrowing the air passage - muscular control in the throat will be lost, which may allow the tongue to sag back and block the air passage - because the reflexes are impaired, saliva or vomit may lie in the back of the throat blocking the air way. Any of these situations can lead to the death of the casualty so it is imperative that you establish a clear airway immediately. 1. Kneel beside the casualty. 2. Lift her chin forwards with the index and middle finger fingers of one hand while pressing her forehead backwards with the heel of your other hand. Her jaw will lift her tongue forward, clear of the airway. IF the casualty's breathing is or becomes noisy, her airway is obstructed. Open and clear her airway immediately. Checking Breathing In order to find out whether an unconscious casualty is breathing, after first opening the airway, look, listen and feel for any signs of respiration. Clearing The Airway Even when you have opened the casualty's airway, foreign matter such as vomit, loose teeh or dentures, or food may block the airway, thereby preventing the casualty from breathing. Any object that can be seen or felt should therefore be removed if possible. B - Breathing The technique of breathing for a casualty is known as Artificial Ventilation. The most efficient method is to transfer air from your own lungs into the casualty's , by blowing into them throgh mouth (Mouth To Mouth Ventilation). Mouth-To-Mouth Ventilation This is a prefered method of Artificial Ventilation where a casualty is not breathing. If the mouth cannot be used, satisfactory ventilation can be achieved through the nose (Mouth-To-Nose) or through the mouth and nose in small children and infants (Mouth-to-Mouth-and-Nose). 1. Remove any obvious obstructions over the face or constrictions around the neck. Open the airway and remove any debris seen in the mouth and throat. 2. Open your mouth wide, take a deep breath, pinch the casualty's nostrils together with your fingers and seal your lips around his mouth. 3. Blow into the casualty's lungs, looking along his chest, until you can see his chest rise to maximum expansion. NOTE: If the casualty's chest fails to rise, first assume his airawy is not fully opened. Adjust the postion of his head and jaw and try again. If there is still noo ventilation, his airway may be blocked, and you will have to treat for Choking. 4. Remove your mouth. Take a deep breath and repeat inflation. 5. After two inflations, check the pulse to make sure the heart is beating. IF the heart is beating and a pulse is felt, continue to give inflations at a rate of 12-16 times per minute until natural breathing is restored, assisting it when necessary and adjusting it to the casualty's rate. IF the heart is not beating you must perform External Chest Compression immediately. C Circulation. It is pointless continuing Artificial Ventilation if the casualty's heart is not beating, because the oxygenated blood will not be circulating. Checking for circulation check the pulse at the neck (carotid pulse). This pulse can be felt by placing your finger tips gently on the voice box and sliding them down into the hollow between the voice box and the adjoining muscle. External Chest Compression NEVER attempt ECC if the heart is beating , even faintly and any pulse is felt! 1. Lay the casualty on his back on a firm surface. Kneel alongside him facing his chest and in line with his heart. Find the junction of his rib margins at the bottom of his breastbone. Place the heel of one hand along the line of the breastbone, two finger breadths above the point, keeping your fingers off the ribs. 2. Cover this hand with the heel of your other hand and interlock your fingers. Your shoulders should be directly over the casualty's breastbone and your arms straight. 3. Keeping your arms straight, press down vertically on thee lower half of his breastbone to move 4-5 cm for the average adult. Release pressure. Complete 15 compressions at the rate of 80 compressions per minute. Compressions should be regular and smooth, not jerky and stabbing. 4. Move back to the casualty's head, reopen his airway and give two breaths of Mouth-To-Mouth Ventilation. 5. As soon as pulse returns, stop compressions immediately. Continue Mouth-to-Mouth Ventilation until breathing is restored, assisting it when necessary and adjusting it to the casualty rate. Place casualty in the Recovery Position. Checking For Response When resuscittation is successful, the carotid pulse will return. Look at the casualty's face and lips. The color will improve as blood containing oxygen begins to circulate. When the casualty is not breathing, the normal color truns to blue.