Each of us is not immune from a situation where a loved one or just a passerby receives electric shock, heat stroke, which lead to respiratory arrest, and often to the cessation of heart function. In such a situation, a person’s life will depend only on the instant reaction and the assistance provided. Pupils should already know what artificial heart massage and artificial respiration are, with which you can bring the victim back to life. Let's figure out what these techniques are and how to properly render them.
Causes of respiratory arrest
Before dealing with first aid, you need to find out in which situations breathing may stop. The main causes of this condition include:
- asphyxiation, which is the result of inhalation of carbon monoxide or attempted suicide by hanging;
- drowning;
- electric shock;
- severe cases of poisoning.
These causes are most common in medical practice. But you can call others - in life that just does not happen!
Why is mechanical ventilation necessary ?
Of all the organs of the human body, the brain needs oxygen the most. Without it, after about 5-6 minutes, cell death begins, which will lead to irreversible consequences.
If first aid, artificial respiration and heart massage are not provided in a timely manner, then a person who has returned to life cannot be called full-fledged. The death of brain cells subsequently leads to the fact that this organ will no longer be able to work as before. A person can turn into a completely helpless creature, which will require constant care. For this reason, the quick reaction of others who are ready to provide first aid to the victim is very important.
Features of resuscitation of adults
How to do artificial respiration and heart massage, they are taught in a secondary school at biology classes. Only most people are sure that they will never get into such a situation, so they especially do not delve into the intricacies of such manipulations.
Caught in such a situation, many are lost, they cannot orient themselves, and precious time is running out. Resuscitation of adults and children has its own differences. And they are worth knowing. Here are some features of resuscitation in adults:
- If the victim is still conscious and can speak, then you need to ask what happened.
- There are times when the victim refuses outside help, for unknown reasons. Then, in the presence of life-threatening factors, you must call the police and call an ambulance.
- If the victim does not react to you and is unconscious, then you need to immediately begin resuscitation.
- If a person listens for breathing, then it must be put on its side.
- When assisting a pregnant woman, she should be turned on her left side, since the inferior vena cava passes along the right side, and when it is pressed, blood circulation may be disturbed.
When all these factors are taken into account, you can proceed to resuscitation, if necessary.
Actions before artificial respiration
Quite often, a person loses consciousness, but breathing persists. In such a situation, it must be taken into account that in an unconscious state all the muscles of the body relax. This also applies to the tongue, which, under the action of gravity, slides down and can close the larynx, which will lead to suffocation.
First of all, when you find a person unconscious, you need to take measures to ensure the free flow of air through the larynx. You can put a person on his side or throw his head back and open his mouth by pressing on the lower jaw. In this situation there will be no danger that the tongue completely clogs the larynx.
After this, it is necessary to check whether spontaneous breathing has resumed. Almost all of the films or biology lessons know that for this it is enough to bring a mirror to the mouth or nose - if it is foggy, then the person is breathing. If there is no mirror, you can use the phone screen.
It is important to remember that while all these checks are being carried out, the lower jaw must be kept.
If there is no breathing in the victim due to drowning, strangulation with a rope or ingestion of a foreign body, urgently need to remove a foreign object and clean the oral cavity if necessary.
If all the procedures are carried out, and breathing has not been restored, it is necessary to immediately perform artificial respiration, heart massage, if it has stopped its work.
Rules for performing artificial respiration
If all the causes of respiratory arrest have been eliminated, but it has not recovered, then it is urgently necessary to begin resuscitation. Artificial respiration can be carried out by different methods:
- breathing air into the victim’s mouth;
- blowing into the nose.
Most often use the first method. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to do artificial respiration and heart massage. The rules are quite simple, you only need to follow them exactly:
- immediately call an ambulance;
- the victim must be put on his back, but under it should be a solid surface;
- open the patient’s mouth and tilt his head back a little;
- pinch the victim’s nose with two fingers;
- having gained air into the lungs, you should exhale it into the victim’s mouth, pressing it tightly to his lips;
- blowing must be done strongly, but not sharply, not jerkily, otherwise the diaphragm may not open and air will enter the stomach, which can provoke vomiting;
- the number of blowings is 10-12 times per minute;
- during inspiration, it is necessary to monitor the chest - it should rise; if it is not, then the air does not get there;
- If even the injured person began to regain consciousness, then the mechanical ventilation of the lungs must be continued: 1 breath for every 6 seconds until the ambulance arrives or the person wakes up completely.
If the victim after all efforts does not come to his senses and does not begin to breathe on his own, then he will have to urgently do indoor heart massage and artificial respiration at the same time.
Technique of artificial respiration " mouth to nose "
This method of resuscitation is considered the most effective, since it reduces the risk of air entering the stomach. The procedure in this case is as follows:
- It is necessary to fix the victim’s head, holding the forehead with one hand, and the chin with the other.
- The mouth must be tightly closed so that the blown air does not exit through it.
- After a deep breath, you should intensively blow air into the victim’s nose.
- It is necessary to ensure that the chest lifted, which indicates the correct execution. After a few breaths, you need to check if the pulse appears.
Most often, if all the manipulations are performed correctly and in a timely manner, it is possible to bring the victim back to life.
The effect of massage of the heart muscle
Most often, artificial heart massage and artificial respiration are combined when providing first aid. Almost everyone imagines how such manipulations are carried out, but not everyone knows what their meaning is.
The heart in the human body is a pump that energetically and constantly pumps blood, while supplying oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissues. When performing indirect massage, pressure is applied to the chest, and the heart begins to compress and push blood into the vessels. When the pressure stops, the myocardial chambers straighten and venous blood enters the atria.
Thus, a blood flow is carried through the body, which carries everything the brain needs.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation algorithm
To make cardiac resuscitation more effective, it is necessary to lay the victim on a hard surface. In addition, you have to unbutton your shirt and other clothes. The belt on men’s trousers also needs to be removed.
Next, you need to determine as accurately as possible the point on the chest at which pressure should be applied. There are two methods for this:
- the point is at the intersection of the interspin line and the middle of the sternum;
- it is necessary to deviate from the xiphoid process on the chest by the thickness of two fingers to the head - this will be the desired point.
After determining the desired pressure point, you can proceed to resuscitation.
Technique of heart massage and artificial respiration
The sequence of actions during resuscitation manipulations should be as follows:
- to kneel near the victim and take a stable position;
- find the right point for pressure;
- put your palms crosswise on the sternum, connecting your fingers and straightening your elbows;
- perform 30 strong pressures, during which the chest should fall by 4-5 centimeters;
- after pressing it is necessary to take 2 breaths;
- repeat in such a rhythm until the ambulance arrives, or until the victim gives signs of life.
It is necessary to take into account that conducting artificial respiration and indirect heart massage requires decent efforts, therefore it is advisable that there is someone else nearby who could replace you and provide assistance.
Features of helping children
Resuscitation measures in young children have their own differences. The sequence of artificial respiration and heart massage in babies is the same, but there are some nuances:
- it is necessary to start resuscitation measures with 5 breaths, as in babies heart failure most often occurs as a result of the cessation of breathing;
- then the sequence of actions is observed: 30 times press on the chest and take two breaths;
- you need to press gently on one side, in infants it is necessary to do this with two fingers.
- performing a breath, it is necessary to grasp the mouth and nose of the baby with your mouth;
- if there are no assistants nearby, then call an ambulance 1 minute after the start of resuscitation.
Signs of effective help
Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, you need to know the signs by which you can judge its success. If artificial respiration and external heart massage are performed correctly, then, most likely, after a while, the following symptoms can be observed:
- pupils react to light;
- the skin becomes pinkish;
- palpable pulse in the peripheral arteries;
- the victim begins to breathe on his own and regains consciousness.
If artificial heart massage and artificial respiration do not give results within half an hour, then resuscitation is ineffective, and it must be stopped. It should be noted that the earlier cardiopulmonary resuscitation is started, the more effective it will be in the absence of contraindications.
Contraindications to resuscitation
Artificial cardiac massage and artificial respiration set the goal to return a person to a full life, and not just delay the time of death. Therefore, there are situations when carrying out such resuscitation is meaningless:
- if cardiac arrest has become a natural end to a long and serious illness;
- extreme degree of heart failure;
- renal, hepatic, or respiratory failure;
- signs of futility of resuscitation;
- the presence of visible damage that is not compatible with life;
- signs of biological death, which usually begin to appear after 1-3 hours, depending on air temperature.
The rules of artificial respiration and indirect heart massage suggest that resuscitation is started immediately after detecting cardiac arrest. Only in this case, if there are no contraindications, can we hope that a person will return to a full life.
Rescue Tips
We figured out how to do artificial respiration and heart massage. The rules are quite simple and straightforward. Do not be afraid that you will not succeed. Here are some tips to save a person’s life:
- If something does not work out with artificial respiration, then you can and should continue to do heart massage.
- In most adults, breathing stops due to the termination of the myocardium, so massage is more important than artificial respiration.
- Do not be afraid that as a result of excessive pressure you will break the ribs of the victim. Such an injury is not fatal, but a person’s life will be saved.
Each of us may need such skills at the most unexpected moment, and it is very important not to get confused and do our best in such a situation, because life often depends on the correctness and timeliness of actions.