Why do I have to tilt their head back to check for breathing?When someone is unresponsive, their tongue can fall backwards and block their airway. Tilting their head backwards opens the airway by pulling the tongue forward. Show
Back to questions What should I do if I hear noisy or irregular breathing?Sometimes when a person is unresponsive their breathing may become noisy or irregular, or they may be gasping. This is usually a sign that their heart is not working properly and you should start chest compressions. Back to questions What should I do if I’m on my own when I find someone unresponsive and not breathing?If you are on your own, call 999 before you start chest compressions. Back to questions What are chest compressions?Chest compressions are where you place your hands in the centre of the chest and repeatedly press downwards and release at a regular rate to help pump the blood around the body. Back to questions How long should I do chest compressions for?Keep going until help arrives. If there is someone else who can help, change over every minute or two. Try to keep doing chest compressions with as little interruption as possible when you change over. Back to questions If I press too hard during chest compressions, could I break their ribs?You might, but try not to worry. Your priority is to keep the blood circulating. A damaged rib will mend, but if you don’t do chest compressions their chances of survival are much lower. Back to questions Should I do chest compressions differently on a child or baby?Yes, chest compressions should be done slightly differently for children or for babies. For a child over one, use only one hand to do chest compressions. For a baby under a year old, use two fingers to do chest compressions. Find out: Back to questions What if I make a mistake and do chest compressions but the person is still breathing?It’s not ideal but don’t worry. There’s no evidence to suggest you will cause any serious damage. Back to questions Am I supposed to give rescue breaths too?If you feel able to, combine chest compressions with breathing into their mouth or nose. However, giving chest compressions is the most important thing to do because their blood already has some oxygen in it and the compressions will keep that blood pumping around their body, taking oxygen to their brain. Breathing into their mouth or nose tops up the oxygen in their lungs. The combination of continuous cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by two breaths is called CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Back to questions How do I give rescue breaths?If you feel able to give rescue breaths, you can do so after about 30 pushes on their chest. To give rescue breaths, tilt their head back and seal your mouth over either their mouth or nose. Blow air into them with two steady breaths. If you are breathing into the mouth, pinch the nose. If you’re breathing into the nose, shut their mouth. On a baby under a year old, seal your mouth around both their nose and mouth because their faces are small. Back to questions Will I restart the heart if I give chest compressions?The chance of restarting the heart by chest compressions alone is very small. Usually, a heart needs an electric shock from an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restart. Chest compressions pump a small amount of blood around the body to keep the organs alive, most importantly the brain. Don’t give up even if you do not see any change in the person’s condition. Chest compressions significantly increase the chance of the person surviving. Back to questions What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)?An AED is a machine that can be used to shock the heart back into normal rhythm. When you open an AED case it will give you full instructions on what you should do. Find out how to help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing when an AED is available. Back to questions What should I do if someone has been rescued from drowning and is unresponsive and not breathing?Get the person safely to dry land without putting yourself in danger. Check to see if they are breathing by tilting their head back and looking and feeling for breaths. If they are unresponsive and not breathing, push firmly downwards in the middle of their chest at a regular rate. Ideally, you should alternate two rescue breaths with 30 chest compressions for anyone who has been rescued from drowning. This will help build up a supply of oxygen in their blood. Back to questions Email us if you have any other questions about first aid for someone who is unresponsive and not breathing.
Air enters the lungs via the trachea (windpipe). Choking is caused when a foreign object, like a hard lump of food, a marble or false teeth goes into the trachea instead of the oesophagus (food pipe). If the object is at the entrance to the trachea (epiglottis), a good cough will more than likely push it out. If the object has made its way past the epiglottis, coughing may prevent the object from going further down the trachea. Sometimes, an inhaled object may cut off the airway completely. Choking may be a life-threatening medical emergency, because the brain can only survive a few minutes without oxygen.First aid can save the life of a choking person if applied correctly and immediately. Procedures are different for adults and children. Always call triple zero (000) in an emergency.The suggestions in this fact sheet are not a substitute for first aid training. Everyone should learn first aid skills. Symptoms of chokingA person with a partly blocked airway can still breathe, speak or cough. Symptoms include:
First aid for choking if the person is consciousTo begin with, reassure the person. Encourage them to breathe and cough. If coughing does not remove the blockage:
First aid for choking if the person is unconsciousIf the person becomes unconscious:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to treat chokingFirst aid CPR procedure includes:
Performing first aid on yourselfIf you are choking:
Children and chokingTreatment for a choking child or baby is slightly different than for an adult. The most important thing to remember is never to pat or slap your choking child on the back if they are managing to cough. Your actions may dislodge the object and allow it to be inhaled deeper into the airway.Note that in a young child, their struggle to breathe may not last long and the stopping of frantic activity may signal a serious or life-threatening situation, rather than a sign that they have dislodged the blockage. Look for other signs and symptoms such as the child’s responses, a pale face, or cold and clammy skin. These are signs that the child is in shock.When a child is choking:
What to do when the child is not breathingIf the child is not breathing:
Precautions to prevent children chokingSmall children are at risk from choking on food and small items such as buttons or beads. Parents can take many precautions to reduce the risk of their child choking. The molars (back teeth) are used for grinding and mashing foods. Children don't start getting their molars until they are somewhere between 12 and 18 months of age, and it may take a further two years or more until all the molars are through and the child is very good at chewing. This means they are vulnerable to choking on hard foods such as raw carrot, chunks of apple, lollies, popcorn or peanuts.Suggestions to prevent choking include:
First aid courses for treating childrenEmergency medical treatment for young children isn't always the same as for adults, which is why all parents should take a course in paediatric (child) first aid.Where to get help
Things to remember
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This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
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