First Aid Chapter 4

Without oxygen brain cells begin to die within

4 to 6 minutes

Allergic reactions

A severe allergic reaction can cause a condition called anaphylaxis. During this air passages swell and restrict a person's breathing.

Emphysema

A type of COPD. Involves damage to the air sacs in the lungs. It is a chronic disease that worsens over time. Most common signal is shortness of breath.

Airway

Air travels down your throat, through your windpipe, and into your lungs

Respiratory distress

Condition in which breathing becomes difficult. Most common breathing emergency.

Croup

Harsh repetitive cough that most commonly affects kids younger than 5. The airway constricts limiting the passage of air. Sounds like a bark. Occurs during night.

What to do until help arrives (children)

If a child is unconscious and not breathing give 2 rescue breaths after checking for breathing and then begin CPR

What to do until help arrives (respiratory causes)

If an adult is not breathing because of a respiratory cause such as drowning or drug overdose give 2 rescue breaths after checking for breathing and then begin cpr.

What to do until help arrives (trouble breathing cardiac emergency)

If an adult is unconscious and not breathing the cause is most likely cardiac emergency. Immediately begin cpr starting with compressions.

What to do until help arrives (choking)

If the choking person is coughing forcefully let him or her try to cough up the object. A person who is getting enough air to cough or speak is getting enough air to breathe. A conscious adult or child who has a completely blocked airway needs immediate care. A combination of 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts provides an effective way to clear the airway obstruction.

Bronchitis

Is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. It can be acute or chronic. Chronic is a type of COPD. To be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis a person must have a cough with mucus on most days of the month for a least 3 months. Acute bronchitis is not a type of COPD.

Hyperventilation

Occurs when a person's breathing is faster and more shallow than normal. When this happens the bod does not take in enough oxygen to meet its demands. Is the body's way of compensating when there is a lack of enough oxygen. The result is a decrease in carbon dioxide, which alters the acidity of the blood.

Respiratory arrest

Respiratory distress can lead to this which occurs when breathing has stopped.

Asthma

The inflammation of the air passages that results in a temporary narrowing of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. An asthma attack happens when a trigger cause the airway to swell and narrow. This makes breathing difficult.

Epiglottis symptoms

begins with a high fever and a sore throat, may need to sit up and lean forward in order to breathe. Drooling, difficulty swallowing, voice changes, chills, shaking, and fever.

Caring for a conscious choking adult or child or infant who becomes unconscious

carefully lower him to the ground and begin cpr

Signals of both kinds of bronchitis

chest discomfort, cough that produces mucus, fatigue, fever, shortness of breath that worsens with activity, wheezing. Additional signals of chronic is ankle and leg swelling, blue lips, and frequent respiratory infections.

Causes of respiratory distress and arrest caused by

chocking, illness, chronic conditions like asthma, electrocution, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, injury to the head or brain stem chest lungs or abdomen, allergic reactions, drug overdose, poisoning, emotional distress, and drowning

Common signals of COPD

coughing up a large volume of mucus, tendency to tire easily, loss of appetite, bent posture with shoulders raise and lips pursed to make breathing easier, a fast pulse, round barrel shaped chest, confusion

Epiglottis

far less common than croup that causes severe swelling of the epiglottis, which is a piece of cartilage at the back of the tongue. When it swells it can block the windpipe lead to breathing problems. Usually caused by haemophilus influenza bacteria. Signals may be similar to croup but it is more serious and can result in death.

Chronic obstuctive pulmonary disease

long term lung disease encompassing both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Causes a person to have trouble breathing because of damage to the lungs. The airways become partly blocked and the air sacs in the lungs lose their ability to fill with air. No cure and it worsens over time. Most common cause is cigarette smoking.

Wheezing

occurs because air becomes trapped in the lungs

Signals of anaphylaxis

rash, tightness in the chest and throat, swelling of the face neck and tongue. The person may feel dizzy or confused. Life threatening