Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

3 Airway and Breathing

Hyperventilation Hyperventilation is a condition of breathing too rapidly. This leads to improper oxygen exchange. It can be caused by a medical condition, severe pain, overdose, poisoning, and anxiety or stress. Hyperventilation may also occur for no obvious reason. First aid for hyperventilation follows the same steps as all other breathing emergencies. Assess the patient for adequate breathing and air exchange and provide first aid for any illness or injury. In many cases, hyperventilation is a frightening experience for a patient, especially when it is caused by acute anxiety or stress. The patient can feel as if they can’t get enough air and may feel dizzy or even have chest pains. The pulse will be faster than normal and their colour should show good oxygen levels in the blood.

Self Help for Choking thrust your abdomen against a back of a chair

Apnea, Agonal Breathing and Hyperventilation Apnea is a complete absence of breathing. Agonal breathing or “gasping respiration” is an abnormal pattern of breathing caused by a brainstem reflex in a dying patient. However, the first aider may confuse agonal breathing with normal respiration. Remember that adequate breathing is defined by equal chest rise and fall every five seconds, whereas the duration of agonal breathing varies. First aiders must treat agonal breathing as apnea.

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