Breathing problems

Anaphylaxis

• Severe attacks are rare, but when they do so,

they are a truly life threatening medical

emergency.

• They are caused by caused by an insect bite

or sting, by contact with drugs, medications,

foods, or chemicals to which the individual is

allergic.

Signs and Symptoms of

Anaphylaxis

• An allergic reaction often occurs suddenly

after contact with the substance.

• Mild reactions include:

1. Swelling and redness of the skin localised

near the area of contact.

2. Hives, itching, rash.

• These may develop into severe reactions

Signs and Symptoms of

Anaphylaxis

• These severe reactions may include:

1. Swelling of the lips, ears, hands and or feet.

2. Redness of the skin generalized all over the

body, such as raised, itchy, blotchy rash

(hives)

3. Weakness, dizziness

4. Nausea, vomiting

Signs and Symptoms of

Anaphylaxis

5. Breathing difficulty, coughing, and wheezing

that can cause an obstructed airway as the

throat and tongue swell.

• Death can occur from a severe reaction if the

casualty’s breathing is severely impaired

First Aid for Anaphylactic Shock

• In all case start with the emergency action

principles.

1. Survey the scene

2. Check the person unresponsiveness, and call

EHS

3. Do a primary survey and care for life

threatening problems.

First Aid for Anaphylactic Shock

• Watch the person carefully as any allergic

reaction can become life threatening.

• Assess airway and breathing.

• If the casualty has difficulty breathing or their

throat is closing, call EHS.

• Get them into the most comfortable position

for breathing.

• Monitor ABCs and offer reassurance.

First Aid for Anaphylactic Shock

• Where the casualty has a known allergy,

assist them with their Epipen kit as

necessary.

First Aid for Hyperventilation

• If the casualty’s breathing is rapid and there

are signs and symptoms of an injury or an

underlying illness or condition, get them to

EHS as soon as possible.

First Aid for Hyperventilation

• If the casualty’s breathing is rapid and you are

certain that it is caused by emotion, such as

excitement:

1. Tell them to relax and breathe slowly, which

may be enough to correct hyperventilation.

2. Do NOT get them to breath into a bag.

3. If the condition does not correct itself within

minutes or if the casualty becomes

unconscious from hyperventilation, get to EHS.

First Aid for a Penetrating Chest

Wound

• This needs first aid and medical attention

promptly because the conditions will worsen.

• The affected lung will not work properly,

breathing will become difficult, and internal

bleeding will worsen.

• If the wound is sucking air:

1. Cover the wound with a dressing that does not

let through, such as a piece of plastic wrap or

bag. Otherwise a folded cloth or clothing.

First Aid for a Penetrating Chest

Wound

2. Tape the dressing in place, except for one side

that remains open. This method keeps air from

entering the chest cavity through the wound

during inhalation, but allows it to escape during

exhalation.

First Aid for Flail Chest

• Flail chest is when the chest wall becomes

unstable due to fractures of the breast bone,

cartilage connecting ribs to the breast bone,

and or the ribs.

• To stabilise the chest wall and enable the

casualty to breath more easily, apply a bulky

dressing such as a towel to the affected area.

First Aid for Flail Chest

• Secure the dressing with tape of triangular

bandages.

• This will allow the rib cage to move as one

unit again.

• Remember the fractured bone ends may

puncture the lungs and cause further

respiratory distress.

• Continue monitoring ABCs until delivery to

EHS.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in an Adult

• Rescue breathing is breathing air into a

casualty to give them oxygen so that they can

survive.

• In the primary survey, after you have opened

up the airway if you cannot see, hear or feel

any signs of effective breathing, give 2 full

breaths immediately to get air into the

casualty’s lungs.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in an Adult 1

1. To give breaths, keep the airway open with

the head tilt/ chin lift.

2. Place the air mask over the casualty’s nose

and mouth, and make a tight seal.

3. Next take a deep breath, and with your lips

around the mouthpiece, breathe slowly into

the casualty until you see their chest rise.

Each breath should last 2 seconds.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in an Adult 2

4. Pause between each breath to take a breath

yourself, and to let the air flow out of the

casualty’s chest.

5. If you do not see the casualty’s chest rise

and fall, as you breathe into their lungs,

recheck that the head tilt/ chin lift is correct.

6. If air still does not go in, the airway is

obstructed.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in an Adult 3

7. When you successfully delivered two rescue

breaths, check for signs of circulation. If the

casualty has circulation but is not breathing,

continue by giving 1 breath every 5 seconds.

8. After 1 minute’s breathing (12 breaths)

recheck signs of circulation to make sure the

heart is still beating.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in an Adult 4

9. If the casualty still has circulation but is not

breathing, continue rescue breathing.

10. Check for signs of circulation every few

minutes.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in an Adult 5

DO NOT stop rescue breathing unless one of

the following occurs:

1. Your personal safety is threatened.

2. The casualty begins to breathe on their own.

3. The casualty has no signs of circulation -

begin CPR.

4. Another trained rescuer arrives on scene and

takes over.

5. You are too exhausted to continue.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in a Child or Infant

• Use the head tilt/ chin lift gently.

• Fit the air mask over the child’s mouth and

nose. (for an infant or small child the face

mask may have to be upside down to best fit

the infant’s face)

• Use smaller breaths, and in an infant use

“puffs” of air.

• Breathe in only enough to make the chest

rise.

Rescue Breathing for Respiratory

Arrest in a Child or Infant 2

• Give 1.5 second rescue breaths at the rate of

one breath every 3 seconds for a child, or

one puff every 3 seconds for an infant.

Special Considerations for

Rescue Breathing 1

• Avoid air getting into the stomach, by having

the head tilted back far enough, by not over-

inflating the lungs, and by giving long slow

breaths.

• Air in the stomach can cause vomiting, and in

an unconscious that vomit may get into their

lungs (this is called aspiration) - it hampers

rescue breathing and can be fatal

Special Considerations for

Rescue Breathing 2

• Vomiting may well occur even if air does not

get into the stomach.

• If this happen turn the casualty’s head and

body together onto one side. This prevent

vomit entering the lungs.

• Quickly wipe the casualty’s mouth clean, turn

them onto their back and continue with

rescue breathing.

Special Considerations for

Rescue Breathing 3

• Mouth to nose breathing is sometimes

necessary where you cannot seal your mouth

over the casualty’s mouth due to injuries to

their mouth or jaw.

Special Considerations for

Rescue Breathing 4

• Casualties with dentures should not

necessarily have their dentures removed, as

they can help support the casualties mouth

and cheeks during rescue breaths.

• If the dentures are loose, the head tilt/ chin lift

may help keep them in place.

• Only remove them if they become loose and

block the airway or make it difficult to give

breaths.

Suspected Head, Neck or Back

Injuries

• Suspect such injuries in any casualties who

have experienced violent force.

• In such cases minimise movement of the

head and neck when opening the airway.

• Use the jaw thrust method instead of the

head tilt/ chin lift.