Airway & breathing problems Flashcards
‘normal’ respiratory rates
adult, child, baby
adult = 12-20 breaths/min child = 20-40 breaths/min baby = 30-60 breaths/min
CHOKING
- 4 stages
- Encourage casualty to cough
- Back blows (x5, bend head lower than chest)
- Abdominal thrusts (x5, check between thrusts)
- Repeat steps 2 + 3 (while patient conscious)
choking baby
- 3 steps
- Back blows
- lay on front over one arm
- keep head below the chest
- x5 blows between shoulder blades with palm of fingers - chest thrusts
- lay on back over other arm
- keep head below the chest
- x5 sharp presses with two fingers below chest - Repeat steps 2 + 3
- don’t stop while baby is conscious
if choking casulaty becomes unconscious
start CPR
ANAPHYLAXIS
- 4 most common reactions
- prescribed drugs
- insect stings
- nuts
- seafood
ANAPHYLAXIS
- airway signs + symptoms
(x4)
- swelling of tongue + lips
- feeling of throat closing up
- hoarse voice
- loud pitched, noisy breathing
ANAPHYLAXIS
- breathing signs + symptoms
(x2)
- difficult, wheezy breathing
- ‘tight’ chest
ANAPHYLAXIS
- circulation signs + symptoms
(x5)
- dizziness, faintness, passing out (esp. if sat upright)
- pale, cold, clammy skin
- fast pulse
- rash may disappear
- nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps
ANAPHYLAXIS
- treatment
(x8 things to remember)
- call emergency services
- lay casualty down
- if faint, DO NOT sit up
- if JUST breathing problems, sitting up may help
- if faintness continues, raise legs above head
- use auto-injector of adrenaline (if available)
- if unconscious, check airway + breathing (CPR if required)
- adrenaline can be administered every 5 mins
ASTHMA
- 8 signs + symptoms
- difficulty breathing
- wheezy breath sounds (from lungs)
- difficulty speaking (breath mid-sentence)
- pale, clammy skin
- grey or blue lips / skin (cyanosis)
- using neck and upper back muscles to help breathe
- exhaustion
- unconsciousness
TOP RULE OF TREATING ASTHMA
stay calm, reassuring - it avoids hyperventilation
treating an ASTHMA attack
x7 things to remember
- sit casualty upright (even if too weak)
- help use inhaler
- take mind off attack (calm, reassuring conversation)
- repeat use of inhaler after 5 mins
- call emergency services if attack is prolonged, severe, worsens
- DO NOT take patient outside (cold air makes attack worse)
- if unconscious, lay down + CPR if necessary
CROUP
- 8 signs + symptoms
- usually very young children
- usually happens at night
- distressed breathing
- loud pitched whistle as child breathes
- short ‘barking’ cough
- pale, clammy skin
- blue tinges to skin (cyanosis)
- using neck and upper back muscles to help breathe
CROUP
- treatment
(x4 things)
- keep calm
- sit child up and reassure
- seek medical advice
- if severe (blue lips, temperature) call emergency services
though distressing, croup usually passes with no lasting harm
difference between ASTHMA and HYPERVENTILATION
HYPERVENTILATION: large amounts of air audibly entering lungs
ASTHMA: tight wheezy breaths
HYPERVENTILATION
- 9 signs + symptoms
- unnaturally deep, fast breathing
- attention seeking behaviour
- dizziness, faintness
- ‘tight’ chest
- cramps in hands + feet
- flushed skin (no cyanosis)
- pins and needles
- casualty thinks they cannot breathe
- may pass out
HYPERVENTILATION
- treatment
- be firm + calm, but reassuring
- move to quiet place + explain casualty is hyperventilating
- ‘coach’ casualty’s breathing
- sips of water help slow down breathing
- breathing through nose reduces CO2 loss
- if signs of HYPOXIA, call emergency services
DROWNING
x4 things to remember
- DON’T put yourself at risk (“reach or throw, don’t go”)
- keep casualty horizontal during rescue to avoid shock
- check airway + breathing (CPR if required)
- call emergency services, even if recovered (could suffer secondary drowning)
collapsed lung/sucking chest wound
- 8 signs + symptoms
- severe difficulty breathing
- painful breathing
- fast, shallow breathing
- cyanosis
- pale, clammy skin
- uneven chest movements (injured side may not rise)
SUCKING CHEST WOUND
- sound of air being drawn into wound, bubblign blood
- crackling feeling of skin around injury
collapsed lung/sucking chest wound
- treatment
(5 things to remember)
- immediately cover chest wound to prevent air entering
- call emergency services
- place sterile pad over wound, cover in plastic/cling film/kitchen foil or other airtight covering
- tape air on 3 sides, preventing air entering but allowing to get out
- if unconscious: CPR (if required) or recovery position
which side recovery position for punctured lung?
injured side lowest, to help protect uninjured lung
FLAIL CHEST
- 4 signs + symptoms
- severe difficulty breathing
- shallow, painful breathing
- signs of fracture
- ‘paradoxical’ chest movements (broken segment moves in opposite direction to rest of chest)
FLAIL CHEST
treatment
(4 things to remember)
- call emergency services
- place casualty in most comfortable position (ideally sat up, inclined towards industry)
- place large amounts of padding over fracture area
- place arm on injured side in elevated sling
