(BE) Respiratory Arrest Lesson Three

Respiratory Arrest

As noted earlier, respiratory distress can quickly lead to respiratory arrest in which breathing stops completely. In this situation, the victim is not receiving any oxygen to vital organs and body systems will begin to fail within only a few minutes of oxygen deprivation. Signs of respiratory arrest include the absence of breathing and bluish or ashen skin color.

Care for Respiratory Arrest

Rescue breathing is a technique used to artificially supply air and oxygen to the victims lungs. Rescue breaths are used as part of CPR and are also used to aid infants and children who are not breathing but still have a pulse.

Watch the videos below to learn about child and infant rescue breathing training.

Child & Infant Rescue Breathing Training Video

Typically, if an adult is not breathing, it is usually a result of a cardiac emergency. CPR should be initiated immediately starting with chest compressions.

Note:

Over inflating the victim's lungs by breathing too forcefully, too quickly or for too long can cause air to enter the stomach which leads to gastric distention. This condition can make the victim vomit. When an unconscious victim vomits, whether from gastric distention or not, there is a chance they will aspirate stomach contents, saliva or blood. Be sure to roll the victim onto one side, taking care not to twist the neck or back, and clear the contents away from their mouth. You should reposition the victim, open the airway and continue rescue breathing. 

videos used with permission from http://www.procpr.org/en/training_video/child-rescue-breathing and http://www.procpr.org/en/training_video/infant-rescue-breathing

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