Question

You are walking around a stack of books at the library when you hear a woman crying, saying, " I think he's dead." You see an older man on the floor of the library. As you move the man's side you ask what happened. "He's a volunteer here." the woman says. "I just came around the corner and found him there." You find the patient unresponsive and open his air way. You note a single, gasping breath in your 10 second check for breathing. It is very shallow. The man has a slow pulse.

1. Is this patient breathing adequately? Why or why not?

2. What would you do to treat this patient?

3. 9-1-1 must be activated. How would you do this?

Answer 1

Patient is not breathing adequately because patient shows gasping breath which is a abnormal type of breathing . This usually occurs in cardiac arrest . Gasping breath usually occur because the respiratory center of the brain send signals to the respiratory muscles even after the heart has stopped. And as heart has stopped so oxygen is not circulated so no proper breathing occur

The main treatment for this agonal breathing is giving CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and call 911 until AED (automated external defibrillator) arrives .Expose chest the chest and give 30 chest compressions . Give two breaths (continue CPR until AED arrives)

call 911 as soon as you see two important sign of cardic arrest

1. Abnormal breathing 2. Unconscious

and continue to give CPR Untill they arrive