Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

3 Airway and Breathing

Normal Breathing Rates

Age

Breaths/Min

First Aider in Action: Part 1 You are at work when you are summoned to reception for a coworker experiencing trouble breathing . Which two processes does the body use to get oxygen? How often should you assess a patient’s airway and breathing?

Adults and Adolescents

12 – 20 15 – 30 25 – 50

Children Age 1–12

Infants

Signs of Ineffective Breathing • Breathing <12 breaths/min. or >20 breaths/min • Irregular pattern of breathing such as several deep breaths followed by a period of no breathing. • Noisy breath sounds. • The person is struggling or gasping for air. • Shallow breathing, not enough air exchange. • Inadequate or unequal chest expansion. • Use of accessory muscles. • Nasal flaring, pursed lips. • Skin is pale, blue (cyanotic), cool and sweaty. • Changes in the LOC.

A person with ineffective breathing may look like they are working hard to breathe. This is called labored breathing and takes effort. It can involve the use of muscles not required for normal breathing, especially in children. These include the muscles of the neck, chest, and stomach and are called accessory muscles.

90

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