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Life Saving

kiss of life WOULD you know what to do if someone collapsed in front of you? Could you save their life? Humans can live without food for about three weeks and without water for around three days. But without oxygen the brain will shut down within minutes. It is the vital life force on which our bodies depend. Taken in through the lungs, it is transferred to all the cells via the bloodstream. Without oxygen, we lose consciousness, heartbeat and breathing stop - and we die. But when someone stops breathing, in an emergency we can give them a chance of survival with the 'kiss-of-life' because we have enough spare oxygen to breathe for them. By blowing air into the lungs - artificial ventilation - we can give them enough to keep them alive - providing the heart is beating to circulate the oxygenated blood. Air is a mixture of gases of which only 21% is oxygen (the other 79% is nitrogen). But only 5% of the oxygen is used up by respiration, so when we breathe out, the air still contains around 16% (in addition to a small amount of carbon dioxide). So when we exhale there is enough to oxygenate another person when it is forced into their lungs. There is a simple ABC of resuscitation for this emergency first aid - Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

Airway Always check that the airway is clear and nothing is blocking the throat. If it is blocked no air can get through. Gently tilt the casualty's head back (this lifts the tongue from the back of the throat, so it does not block the air passage) and check for breathing.

Breathing You can blow your own air into the casualty by artificial ventilation.

Circulation If the heart stops, blood does not circulate so the heart needs mechanical help. Check for signs of circulation - feel for a pulse by placing two fingers in the neck to one side of the windpipe (carotid pulse).

Giving mouth-to-mouth Ventillation

Make sure the airway is open.
Sweep the mouth gently with the finger, removing any obstruction, including broken or displaced dentures (take care not to push these down the throat).
Firmly close casualty's nose by pinching with index finger and thumb.
Take a deep breath and place your lips around casualty's mouth, making a good seal.
Blow into the mouth for two seconds until chest rises.
Remove your mouth and allow the chest to fall (about four seconds). Repeat at a rate of about 10 breaths a minute.
Check for circulation after every 10 breaths. If they start breathing, place in the recovery position - turn onto their left hand side, bend the right leg at the knee to balance.
If they don't start, begin chest compressions (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation). By pressing down rhythmically midway down the breastbone, blood is driven from the heart. When pressure is released the chest returns to its normal position, and blood refills the heart.
Place one hand on top of the other, interlocking the fingers, then keeping arms straight press down hard, about one and a half to two inches, using the heel of the hand, then release pressure. Aim for a rate of about 100 a minute.
Repeat 15 times then give two breaths of mouth-to-mouth ventilation.
Continue this pattern until help arrives or there are signs of recovery.
REMEMBER: These hints are just one life-saving technique. St John Ambulance - the number one trainer in first aid in the UK. There are 50 divisions in Greater Manchester, with 900 members, but the organisation is always looking for new volunteers - especially in the run up to the 2002 Commonweath Games when they will be looking for 3,000 help out. They also carry out group training for companies.

Links St John's Ambulance