Yes!,It could happen to you!.What are we talking about here?Well the circumstances that can occur where you may have only few moments to respond to a life or death situation.If you are wondering what danger can present itself without warning, then you must know this- anything can happen at any time.Well it's all too vague at this point of time,let me explain this with an example-the life or death situation I'm trying to tell you about.You are with your friends in a theme park,a lake or a swimming pool.When you were having a good time, you notice one of your friend is missing,You find that he had drowned.
By instinct your first actions will be to get your friend to the shore/dry area.But what after then?If your friend doesn't breath (may be he drank a lot of water or something is choking him in his throat!) what should you do?Here are some ways that you can respond to such situations.(disclaimer:But these are not the exact ways the experts do, these are just kind of first aid helps that you could do before an ambulance or doctor arrives rather than standing in remorse and doing nothing and I would recommend doing further research on these topics/methods).
Experts estimate that in most cases,once a heart stops,there is a crucial window of five to seven minutes to restore the blood circulation.You may face a situation where the life a person may depend yupon waht you know and what you can do.I think that education on topics like this is essential.And it must be taught at early ages of schooling itself(may be for a 6th or 7th grade) so taht we can ensure that a person learns the methods strongly.
There is one key method that is used for all cases of respiratory problem(stopped breathing ) or if heart stops.The method is called CPR-Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.This is the corner stone for these types of emergency situations.A person may stop breathing or the heart may stop due to many reasons.it might be due to choking, a heart attack, epilepsy or stroke,drowning,electrocution,and many more causes.Whatever be the cause,the required action at the time of emergency is same-Try to put oxygen into the person's lungs by rescue breathing,and try to pump out the blood from the person's heart by giving chest compressions, so that you can induce heart beat and help the blood reach the brain.
- The first action would be to call for an ambulance or a doctor(in case if there is some one near).Because what you do may or may not help the person.Also you aren't an expert always(until you're a doctor) to determine the cause for the problem and call for advance treatment.
- The next important step would be to look out for any signs of consciousness.With the victim lying face up,tilt the head back by lifting the chin up with one hand and lowering the forehead with the other hand.To open an airway.
- Next , Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing. Take no more than 10 seconds to check for breathing.
- If the there seems to be no signs of normal breathing,give 2,slow rescue breaths. If the person is not breathing, pinch the nose closed and cover their mouth with yours. Take a normal breath and give the person a rescue breath lasting for 1 second. The breath should make the person's chest rise. If the person's chest does not rise when the first rescue breath is given, perform the head tilt and chin lift again before giving a second breath.
- Again, lookout for any signs for normal breathing.If the victim is breathing, and is conscious,monitor until help arrives.If the breathing is normal but the person is still unconscious, then turn the person onto his side and monitor till help arrives
- On the other hand,if normal breathing is not restored(moving or coughing) within 10seconds from rescue breathing,put your hands in the center of the person's chest . Place one hand on top of the other. Firmly push down (but not very hard ,hard enough to make the heart pump)with the heel of your hand on the chest. Push on the chest 30 times at a steady interval(just like heart beat,faster than one per second).[Sometimes experts suggest give 15 chest compressions at a steady rhythm at about every 2 seconds interval.]
- Repeat 2 rescue breath and 30 compression cycles until the breathing is restored or until help arrives( remember to give time between the rescue breath and compressions).Also if you are uncomfortable with giving rescue breaths to an adult, simply focus on giving the chest compressions at the correct rate, and keep checking for vital signs after every CPR cycle.
