Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

CHAPTER 5Emergency medical aidREASONS WHY A CASUALTYSTOPS BREATHINGThe five main reasons why acasualty may stop breathing are:◆ a blockage in the airway,◆ heart attack,◆ electric shock,◆ gas or smoke inhalation,◆ near drowning.or that the patient is in ‘hypovolemic shock’ – shock that is dueto loss of blood volume internally or externally.CPR – also known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation – involvesblowing air into the lungs (mouth to mouth), followed by chestcompressions (see pictures on previous page). Blow two breathsthrough the mouth holding the nose closed and then give thechest 15 steady pumps with crossed palms over the heart.Continue this pattern of two breaths followed by 15 pumps for aslong as there is hope. With CPR you can resuscitate about 10% ofthose whose heart has stopped; a skilled paramedic with a defibrillationmachine can achieve a 50% success rate.C is for Circulation: If the patient is breathing, then the heartshould be sending blood around the body. If the pulse is poor orerratic this indicates a problem with the heart beat or with thecirculation. Pulse can be taken anywhere where an artery is closeto the surface. The best place is at the neck (at the side below thejaw bone), at the wrist or on the inside of the elbow or knee.Assess the strength of the pulse and the timing. A normal pulserate is around 60-90 beats per minute. This will slow when someoneis at rest, and speed up when they are agitated or excited. Afast and weak pulse can be a sign of major blood loss, while anirregular pulse suggests something is wrong. Take the pulseclose to an affected limb to check the blood supply to that limb.TAKING A PULSEThe best place to take a pulse isat the neck.Use four fingers flat against thepoint of the pulse.Do not use your thumb. It has itsown pulse and will confuse yourreading.Photo: Rob Judges76