rescue breathing

Forcing air into the lungs of a non-breathing patient during basic life support. Mouth to mouth breathing is used outside a medical facility until EMS has arrived. Indications: 1) spontaneous respirations not present 2) breathing is inadequate Procedure: 1) gently pinch the nose with the index finger & thumb 2) make a tight seal over the patient's mouth & give 2 breaths 1 sec/breath 3) during basic life support, signs of circulation are sought after initial 2 breaths 4) follow with 10-12 breaths/min (adults) 20 breaths/min (1-8 years of age) 5) indicators of adequate respirations a) rise & fall of chest wall b) detection of exhaled air 6) improper chin position is the most common cause of difficult ventilation 7) if ventilation is unsuccessful, use obstructed airway maneuvers 8) assess indications for endotracheal intubation

Related

basic life support (BLS) nasopharyngeal airway oral airway

References

ACLS - The Reference Texbook ACLS: Principles & Practice, Cummins RO et al (eds), American Heart Association, 2003 ISBN 0-87493-341-2