1 Breathe into victim’ s mouth
2Watch chest
3Repeat breathing
4 Check for signs of circulation
16 FIRST AID
GIVING RESCUE BREATHS( adults and children)
BEFORE YOU START
Make sure that you have carried out the following steps:
• Checked for consciousness but had no response( p. 12).
• Opened the victim’ s airway( p. 13).
• Checked for breathing but found no signs( p. 14).
1 Breathe into victim’ s mouth
• Check that the victim’ s airway is still open.
• Pinch the victim’ s nose closed with your thumb and index finger.
• Take a deep breath, then place your open mouth tightly around his so that you form a good seal.
• Blow air into his mouth for about 2 seconds.
Blow steadily into the victim’ s mouth
2Watch chest
• Lift your mouth away from the victim’ s mouth, keeping your hands in place to maintain his head position.
• Glance at the victim’ s chest; you should see his chest fall as the air leaves his lungs. This is called an effective breath. Repeat the breath.
3Repeat breathing
• If there is no chest movement, readjust his head and try again.
• Repeat rescue breaths up to five times or until you achieve two effective breaths. Then check for signs of circulation( see step 4). OR
• If his chest fails to move even after rescue breathing, check for signs of circulation. If you know that the victim has choked and his chest still does not move, do not check for circulation but go straight to CPR( pp. 18 – 20).
Keep checking to see if his chest rises and falls
4 Check for signs of circulation
• Look for any signs that indicate circulation – breathing, coughing, and movement of limbs – for up to 10 seconds.
• If there are signs of circulation, continue rescue breathing, giving 10 breaths per minute for adults and 20 for children. Recheck for signs of circulation every minute.
• If the victim starts breathing again, place him in the recovery position( pp. 14 – 15).
• If there are no signs of circulation, begin CPR( pp. 18 – 20).