Care & Resuscitation Of A Collapsed Adult

Remember - DR A.B.C.

Dangers

1. Check for Dangers to yourself or the victim, eg. fumes, fire, electrical hazards, broken glass, traffic.

Respone

2. Check their Response to assess their level of consciousness. Do this by gently shaking their shoulders and shouting loudly. If they are UNCONSCIOUS there will be NO RESPONSE - call for help from a bystander.

Airways

3. If they are UNCONSCIOUS, roll them onto their side into the Recovery Position to OPEN THEIR AIRWAY. Tilt their head back gently & support their jaw. If you see any obstruction in their mouth (vomit, loose dentures, mouthguard) remove it by sweeping the front of their mouth gently. Do not poke your finger insider their mouth.

Breathing

4. Check to see if they are breathing by looking, listening & feeling.

• LOOK - for any chest wall/abdominal movement.
• LISTEN - for any breath sounds
• FEEL - for any breath on your own check/hand.
• FEEL - for any chest wall/abdominal movement.

If they are breathing, leave in this position until either help arrives or they regain consciousness.

• If they are UNCONSCIOUS & NOT BREATHING commence Expired Air Resuscitation or "mouth to mouth" resuscitation immediately.
• Roll them onto their back & give 5 full breaths into their mouth quickly.

Circulation

• Send the bystander for an AMBULANCE while you check for a CAROTID PULSE to see if they need assistance with their circulation.
• If they have a PULSE but are NOT BREATHING continue with Expired Air Resuscitation at a rate of 15 Breaths per minute OR 1 Breath every 4seconds.

5. If they are pulseless and NOT BREATHING commence CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - immediately by compressing the lower half of their breastbone 4 - 5 cms at a ratio of

• 15 Compressions : 2 Breaths - 4 cycles per minute.
  i.e. a total of 60 Compressions : 8 breaths over 1 minute.
  NB: This is for 1 person CPR.

For 2 Person CPR the ratio is:

• 5 Compressions : 1 Breath - 12-15 cycles per minute
  i.e. a total of 60 Compressions : 12 breaths per minute.
• Check for pulse after 1 minute & then every 2 minutes.
• If the victim shows signs of recovery i.e. coughing, vomiting or breathing, then roll over into the recovery position & wait for help to arrive.
• Stay with them & continue to check for continued breathing.

Reasons For Stopping CPR

• Recovery of the victim.
• Arrival of help (ambulance).
• Victim is certified as deceased by a Medical Practitioner.
• Exhaustion/fatigue of the rescuer.

Many people do not attempt CPR because they fear that they may do more harm than good. If someone is pulseless & unconscious there is nothing you can do to make the situation any worse - any attempt is better than none. The simple act of rolling an unconscious person onto their side may be enough to save a life!

If you wish to participate in a certified CPR course, you can do so by contacting the:

National Heart Foundation 9388 3343
Australian Red Cross 9225 1951
Royal Lifesaving Society 9383 9988