Signs of respiratory arrest are: • unconsciousness, • a motionless chest, • absent breathing sounds, • blue lips, • bluish discoloration of the skin, • dilated pupils and blue fingernails
The casualty’s life is at risk! An individual can survive without oxygen for approximately three minutes at the most. Begin artificial respiration immediately. Then call the emergency doctor.
First: Examine oral cavity
First of all, quickly check the oral cavity and clear it out if necessary (vomit, blood, braces etc.), so that the respiratory tract is not blocked.
Second: Superextend the throat
Free the respiratory tract by superextending the throat.
The unconscious patient is lying on his/her back and the first aider is kneeing beside him/her. With one hand on the chin and the other above the forehead, tilt the head backwards and hold in this position.
In many cases, superextending the throat is enough to bring back unaided breathing.
Third: Mouth-to-nose resuscitation
If superextending the throat does not work, immediately begin mouth-to-nose resuscitation.
With the throat still superextended, close the mouth by pushing the chin upwards with your hand. Take a deep breath and exhale your expired air into the unconscious patient’s nose. Enclose the nose firmly with your lips in the process.
If giving children or infants mouth-to-nose resuscitation, exhale carefully so as to avoid any injuries to the lungs.
Approximately 12 – 15 breaths per minute are sufficient. However, the first 10 breaths must be done quickly one after the other.
Fourth: Controll thorax
While fetching breath each time, check to see whether the chest lowers again. You can see if you are resuscitating the patient correctly by how the chest rises and lowers. If the unconscious patient spontaneously starts breathing, carefully observe him/her and, if necessary, resuscitate again.
Signs of normal breathing are:
• The blue color disappears, • the pupils contract, • the chest starts to clearly move again.
In cases of simultaneous cardiac arrest, resuscitation and cardiac massage must be performed alternately (see resuscitation / cardiac arrest).
