10- Airway and Ventilation

Question 1

CRITICAL FACT

Answer 1

Ensuring an open airway is the most important step you can take in caring for a patient, because a person cannot breathe without an open airway. A patient who can speak or cry is conscious, has an open airway, is breathing and has a pulse.

Question 2

Once you have an open airway:

Answer 2

1) clear any obstructions
2) assess breathing
3) breathing emergency (artificial ventilations)

Question 3

Two types of respiratory emergencies:

Answer 3

1) respiratory distress (breathing becomes difficult)

2) respiratory arrest (breathing stops)

Question 4

Breathing requires:

Answer 4

that the respiratory, circulatory, nervous and musculoskeletal systems work together.

Question 5

CRITICAL FACT

Answer 5

There are many reasons why a person may have difficulty breathing. Reasons include an inadequate amount of oxygen being taken in, a low-oxygen environment, the presence of poisonous gases, infection, poor circulation or other health-related issues.

Question 6

CRITICAL FACT

Answer 6

Oxygenation refers to the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Hypoxia is the term used to describe an insufficient amount of oxygen delivered to the cells.

Question 7

A respiratory emergency occurs when:

Answer 7

air cannot travel freely and easily into the lungs

Question 8

Brain must receive oxygen within

Answer 8

4-6 mins (brain damage possible)
6-10 mins (brain damage likely
Over 10 mins (irreversible brain damage certain)

Question 9

Causes of respiratory distress:

Answer 9

1) partially obstructed airway
2) illness
3) asthma
4) electrocution
5) heart attack
6) injury to the head, chest, lungs or abdomen
7) allergic reactions
8) drugs
9) poisoning
10) emotional distress

Question 10

Two types of airway obstruction:

Answer 10

1) mechanical (any foreign body lodged in airway)

2) automical (tongue)

Question 11

CRITICAL FACT

Answer 11

A patient who is awake and alert but unable to speak, can only speak a few words or has a hoarse-sounding voice may be having severe difficulty breathing. Inadequate breathing may also be caused by swelling due to trauma, infection or an allergic reaction.

Question 12

CRITICAL FACT

Answer 12

Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) is an emergency situation that needs immediate attention. The most common cause of an FBAO is a solid object, such as food.

Question 13

Two techniques can be used to remove visible foreign matter and fluids from the upper airway of an unconscious patient:

Answer 13

1) finger sweeps (removing an object or other foreign matter from a patient’s mouth with a finger. Only performed on an unconscious patient & only when you can see a foreign matter in the patient’s mouth.
2) suctioning (remove blood, fluids or food particles from the airway)

Question 14

CRITICAL FACT

Answer 14

The normal rate of breathing for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. For children, it is 15 to 30 breaths per minute. For infants, it is 25 to 50 per minute. Adequate breathing means that respiratory rate, depth and effort are normal

Question 15

Adequate breathing means that:

Answer 15

respiratory rate, depth and effort are normal.

Question 16

CRITICAL FACT

Answer 16

Any of the following signs suggests that breathing is inadequate: muscles between the ribs pull in on inhalation; pursed lips breathing; nasal flaring; fatigue; excessive use of abdominal muscles to breathe; sweating; and deviated trachea.

Question 17

A limitation of the resuscitation mask:

Answer 17

without use of a BVM or emergency oxygen, it only delivers 16% oxygen through the responder’s exhaled breath.

Question 18

If you blow too much air into the patient, it may

Answer 18

enter the stomach, causing gastric distention. Blow slowly to avoid air in the stomach.

Question 19

Suspect an injury to the head, neck or spine if the patient:

Answer 19

1) was involved in a motor-vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle crash as an occupant, rider or pedestrian
2) was injured as a result of a fall from greater than standing height
3) complains of neck or back pain
4) tingling in the extremities or weakness
5) is not fully alert
6) appears to be intoxicated
7) appears frail or over 65 years of age
8) has an obvious head or neck injury

Question 20

Ventilation rates:

Answer 20

Newborn (30-60 per minute at about 1 sec for each)
Child or infant (12-20 per minute at 1 sec each)
Adult (10-12 per minute at 1 second each)

Question 21

Assisted ventilation is given when the patient shows signs and symptoms of:

Answer 21

1) inadequate breathing
2) breathing and heart rates that are too fast or too slow
3) cyanosis
4) inadequate chest wall motion
5) changes in consciousness, restlessness and chest pain

Question 22

If there is a pulse but no breathing:

Answer 22

1) open the airway
2) blow into the mask
Adult (1 vent every 5 seconds)
Child (1 vent every 3 seconds)
Infant (each vent should last 1 second)

Question 23

For a patient with a suspected head, neck or spinal injury, use the

Answer 23

jaw-thrust (without head extension) maneuver to open the airway to give ventilations

Question 24

Recheck for breathing and a pulse

Answer 24

about ever 2 minutes

Question 25

Remove the mask and look, listen and feel for breathing and a pulse for no more than

Answer 25

10 seconds