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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 25/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 79 Points: 237 Location: Wishaw Scotland
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Was delivering an AED course today and while doing the BLS part was asked "When someones heart stops, are they more likely to take a breath in or out"? Is there any "rule" or can it be either?? Andy
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 27/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,100 Points: 3,300
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Don't know but I would not be that concerned if they took a breath in or out as that's the least of their worry (the victims and your students). You may have Agonal breathing following the arrest.
I would say if the cause was sudden CA following MI then breathing in would be most likely. mediaid2010-08-11 22:35:41
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 25/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 79 Points: 237 Location: Wishaw Scotland
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Thats great, didnt dwell on it but it was something that i wasnt sure of myself. Many thanks
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Forum_Moderators, Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 27/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 902 Points: 2,702
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To be honest, could be either inspiration or expiration - doesn't matter either way - compressions & AED are what matter!!
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 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered, Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 27/04/2012(UTC) Posts: 2 Points: 6 Location: United Kingdom
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You've just died! How many dead people take a breath when they die? Cardiac arrest, no circulation, no blood going to muscles, muscles don't contract, no breath in.
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 25/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,271 Points: 3,813
Was thanked: 1 time(s) in 1 post(s)
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I replied to this a few minutes ago - don't know where that one went. Apologies if somehow it comes up twice
Inspiration is an active process, expiration is a passive process. Therefore it should be an exhalation
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 11/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 64 Points: 192
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Let us not forget that Agonal breathing can occur in up to 40% of cardiac arrests just after the heart has stopped and includes both inhalation and exhalation.
Often described to the ambulance operator as:
Noisy breathing
Gasping breathing
Hardly breathing
and in some cases "Oh Yea, they are breathing."
In the last year two of my First Aiders have found themselves giving CPR to casualties that non First Aiders have described as breathing.
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 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered, Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 27/04/2012(UTC) Posts: 2 Points: 6 Location: United Kingdom
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Originally Posted by: Witchfinder  Let us not forget that Agonal breathing can occur in up to 40% of cardiac arrests just after the heart has stopped and includes both inhalation and exhalation.
Often described to the ambulance operator as:
Noisy breathing
Gasping breathing
Hardly breathing
and in some cases "Oh Yea, they are breathing."
In the last year two of my First Aiders have found themselves giving CPR to casualties that non First Aiders have described as breathing. I don't get your point!!!
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 11/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 64 Points: 192
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The point is that a casualty can sometimes be seen to be agonal breathing even though the heart may have stopped.
This is often mistaken by members of the public as normal breathing, where as all First Aiders should be able to recognise it for what it is, a recognised sign of Cardiac arrest.
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 Rank: Member Groups: Registered, Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 12/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 13 Points: 39 Location: United States
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Originally Posted by: gowster81  Was delivering an AED course today and while doing the BLS part was asked "When someones heart stops, are they more likely to take a breath in or out"? Is there any "rule" or can it be either?? Andy Wouldn't it be better to check the pulse first? Because the pulse is a sign that shows that the body is ok. When there is pulse would be breathing. Sorry for the PM didn't notice that i clicked the PM button. EmikoFierros025 says Hi!
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Administrators, Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 23/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 21,770 Points: 65,322 Location: United Kingdom
Thanks: 1 times
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At first aid level, pulse check should not be used to determine signs of life. It's too easy to get this wrong, hence it is no longer performed.
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 Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered Users, Subscribers Joined: 27/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 108 Points: 339 Location: Lancashire
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I woould also like to add, in response to the comment "when there is pulse would be breathing" that this not necessarily true. When someone stops breathing, their heart will only beat as long as it has a supply of oxygenated blood and that will not be for long if they have already stopped breathing.
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