Maintaining Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

The most important principle of first aid is the ABC of resuscitation, which stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. This is a life-saving procedure that will enable you to decide whether a victim who has collapsed needs breathing or CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The airway must be open, breathing must be checked, and circulation must be assessed. Always follow the ABC sequence before giving any other treatment if the victim is unconscious.

RESUSCITATION. Resuscitation is the name given to the set of procedures that are applied when a person is not breathing, and their heart has possibly stopped. The full set of procedures is known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Cardio relates to the heart and pulmonary to the lungs.
     A person whose heart has stopped (cardiac arrest), or who is not breathing (respiratory arrest), needs immediate treatment to improve the chances of survival. Since speed is a key factor in survival, the treatment needs to be started before the arrival of the emergency ambulance and, since most cardiac arrest happen in the home or in the presence of a family member, friend, or colleague, CPR skills are essential for everyone to know.
     The best outcomes from cardiac or respiratory arrest are achieved when all the steps in the Chain of Survival are in place.

CHAIN OF SURVIVAL

• Early call for help
• Early CPR
• Early defibrillation
• Early medical care

The first two of these steps are often in the hands of the first aider.

ABC OF RESUSCITATION

1. Lay the victim on his back, tilt the head back, and lift the chin to open the airway. Look at the victim's chest for signs of breathing.
2. If the victim is not breathing, pinch the nose shut and keep the chin tilted. Seal your mouth over the victim's and give 2 breaths.
3. Place interlocked hands on the victim's breastbone, press down, then release. Alternate 15 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.

WHAT CAN BLOCK THE AIRWAY?

     The airway is made up of the nose, mouth, and windpipe (trachea). These carry air, containing oxygen, to the lungs and remove the waste product carbon dioxide from the lungs. If the airway becomes blocked, the oxygen levels in the body drop and eventually the vital organs such as the brain and heart stop working. Death will follow unless action is taken.

     A number of things can block the airway: blood, food, and vomit are among the main culprits. In an unconscious person, however, the biggest risk is from the tongue. When a person loses consciousness the muscles relax. If the person is lying on his back the tongue will fall to the back of the mouth, blocking off the windpipe and stopping oxygen getting into the body.

     Clearing the airway is the first step of the essential ABC of first aid. The method of clearing an airway blocked by the tongue is very simple. By tilting the head back and lifting the chin, the tongue is prevented from falling to the back of the throat and the windpipe remains clear.

AN EARLY CALL FOR HELP. Ambulances today carry a range of equipment and treatments vital to the survival of seriously ill victims. Calling for an ambulance early is an essential part of the Chain of Survival, particularly for a victim whose heart has stopped.

WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEBODY HAS COLLAPSED
Facing a situation where somebody has collapsed is frightening, particularly if it is somebody you know. However, there are some very simple steps that you can take to help you decide the best course of action, which in an emergency could mean the difference between life and death.

CHECK THE SCENE. Is it safe for you to approach the person who has collapsed? Do not become a victim yourself. Check for dangers such as chemicals, electricity, or traffic. If you can safely remove the danger, do so. If not, consider if you can safely and easily move the person from the danger, or whether you need to call for additional help such as the fire service.

CHECK THE RESPONSE. Is the person who has collapsed conscious?

• Gently squeeze the shoulders and ask loudly, "Are you all right?"
• Speak loudly and clearly.
• Always assume there may be a neck injury and squeeze gently.

The most important rule of first aid is never to put yourself in danger. Do not rush to the scene; look around you to assess potential dangers. If in doubt, stay back.

For babies and young children

Do not squeeze the shoulders-- try to provoke a response by stroking the cheek or the sole of the foot and speaking loudly.

IF THERE IS NO RESPONSE. If there is no response, the immediate danger is that the victim might be unconscious and may have a blocked airway or be in need of resuscitation.

• Shout for help.
• If possible, leave the victim in the position in which you found him and open the airway.
• When it is not possible to carry out an assessment of the victim in the position found, turn him onto his back and open airway.

OPEN THE AIRWAY

• Place one hand on the forehead and gently tilt the head back.
• Remove any obvious obstructions from the victim's mouth, including dislodged dentures, but leave well-fitting dentures in place.
• Place the fingertips of two fingers under the point of the victim's chin and lift the chin. If injury to the neck is suspected, handle the head very gently and try to avoid tilting the head too much.

For a baby, use one finger to lift the chin and take particular care not to over tilt  the head.

CHECK FOR BREATHING. Once the airway is open, the next priority is to check whether or not the person is breathing. Keep the airway open with one hand on the forehead and one hand lifting the chin. Put your cheek to the victim's face and look down the chest.

• LOOK for the movement of the chest and stomach
• LISTEN for breath sounds.
• FEEL for breathing on the side of your face.

If the victim is breathing, turn into the recovery position.

If the victim is not breathing

• Call 911 for emergency help.

If you have not already done so, make sure that an ambulance has been called.

• Start resuscitation.

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Frederick Luneta is a 24-year old guy and he is a Computer Engineering student and a young part time blogger. Currently lives in the Philippines. He knows a lot about computer.