maintaining abc

Maintaining Airway, Breathing and Circulation

The most important aspect of first aid is the ABC of resuscitation because it is a life saving procedure that enables you to decide whether an individual needs rescue breaths or CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

ABC means that you must check that the Airway is open, Breathing is checked and Circulation is assessed. You must ensure that you follow this sequence before giving any other treatment if the individual is unconscious.

Highlighted below is the step by step guide to carrying out the ABC of resuscitation for adults:

• To ensure that a casualty's tongue does not block the flow of oxygen you must lay the casualty on their back, tilt the head back gently and lift the chin with two fingers to open the airway.
• You must then check for signs of breathing. If the casualty is not breathing you must pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your finger and thumb and keep the chin tilted.
• Take a deep breath to fill your lungs with air
• Seal your mouth over the casualty's mouth and give 2 breaths.
• Take your mouth away and watch to see if the chest rises then falls
• Your aim is to give 2 effective breaths that where the chest rises then falls
• Attempt this up to five times
• If not successful then you will need to check for circulation
• To check if oxygen is circulating around the body you must look, listen or feel for breathing, coughing, movement or normal colour
• Look for no longer than 10 seconds
• If there is clear circulation then continue to give rescue breaths – 1 every 6 seconds until medical help arrives or the individual begins to breathe by themselves
• If there is no circulation then you must carry out CPR by placing interlocked hands on the casualty's breastbone, with your arms straight press down vertically and then release.
• Carry out this chest compression 30 times and then 2 rescue breaths again
• Ensure that you press down about a ¼ of the depth of the chest
• Release the compression without loosing contact with the chest
• Continue to do this until medical help arrives.

Highlighted below is the step by step guide to carrying out the ABC of resuscitation for a child aged 1-8 years old:

• To ensure that a casualty's tongue does not block the flow of oxygen you must lay the casualty on their back, tilt the head back gently and lift the chin with two fingers to open the airway.
• You must then check for signs of breathing. If the casualty is not breathing you must pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your finger and thumb and keep the chin tilted.
• Take a deep breath to fill your lungs with air
• Seal your mouth over the casualty's mouth and give 5 initial breaths.
• Your aim is to give 2 effective breaths that where the chest rises then falls
• Attempt this up to five times
• If not successful then you will need to check for circulation
• To check if oxygen is circulating around the body you must look, listen or feel for breathing, coughing, movement or normal colour
• Look for no longer than 10 seconds
• If there is clear circulation then continue to give rescue breaths – 1 every 6 seconds until medical help arrives or the individual begins to breathe by themselves
• If there is no circulation then you must carry out CPR by placing one hand on the casualty's breastbone, with your arm straight press down vertically and then release.
• Carry out this chest compression 30 times and then 2 rescue breaths
• Release the compression without loosing contact with the chest
• Continue to do this until medical help arrives.

For babies aged 0-1 year use the same process highlighted for children BUT use 2 fingers to do the chest compressions instead of the entire hand!

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