Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
15 3
Check whether the patient is breathing
After opening the airway, quickly check whether the patient is breathing
(Fig. 15-3):
• Look for the belly or the chest moving up and down.
• Feel the chest moving up and down.
• Feel the patient's breath on your cheek.
• Listen for breath sounds. Put your ear close to the patient's mouth.
Fig.15-3 Check whether the pacient is breathing by looking and
feeling for movement of the chest or belly, listening for breathing
sounds and feeling for the pacient's breath on your check.
Use all four checks. Remember that the chest may move up and down
even when the throat is completely blocked and air cannot get to the lungs.
Clean out the mouth and clear the throat
If the patient is not breathing after you have tilted the head back,
something may be blocking the throat.
Turn the head to one side. With one or two fingers (and preferably
wearing gloves) scoop deeply round the mouth and throat to clear any
blockage such as vomit (Fig.15-4). Take out the patient's false teeth.
Fig. 15-4 Clear any blockage