An early sign of hypoxia might be disorientation and confusion. This is usually stemming from the high carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
Quick, forceful breaths are inappropriate and likely to end up in the patient's stomach rather than his lungs.
CPR is performed at a ratio of 15 compressions to two breaths in a child with 2 rescuers.
Agonal gasps are not regular breathing. They may be present during the first minute of cardiac arrest.
When transporting a victim by stretcher you can leave the AED powered on and attached. However, the stretcher or ambulance must be completely stopped in order to get an accurate rhythm analysis.
If you are alone to find your patient not breathing, get an AED and then return to your patient.
When the diaphragm contracts, it flattens and moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity. This creates a negative pressure within the lungs, causing air to be drawn in (inhaled) to equalize the pressure.
Agonal gasps can be forceful or weak. In some cases they are forceful enough to cause head or neck movement, but not always.
When using a simple face mask you should deliver air over a 1-second time period, making the chest rise.
When performing mouth-to-mouth breaths on an adult it is important to take a regular breath and seal your lips around the victim’s mouth. AHA guidelines recommend against taking a deep breath.
Bronchioles are the smaller branches of the airway within the lungs that branch off from the bronchi and continue to divide into smaller passages.
