TO OPEN THE AIRWAY

TO OPEN THE AIRWAY

Remove any obvious obstruction from the mouth. Placing two fingers under the point of the casualty’s chin, lift the jaw. At the same time, place your other hand on the casualty’s forehead, and tilt the head well back. If you suspect head or neck injuries, handle the head carefully, tilting it only just for enough to open the airway.

CHECK FOR BREATING

• Look for chest movements
• Listen for sounds of breathing.
• Feel for breath on your cheek.

Look, listen, and fell for five seconds before deciding that breathing is absent.

CHCK FOR A PULSE

If the heart is beating adequately it will generate a pulse in the neck (the carotid pulse) where the main carotid arteries pass up to the head. These arteries lie on either side of the larynx, between the Adam’s apple and the “ strap muscle” that runs from behind the ear across the neck to the top of the breastbone.

TO CHECK THE CAROTID PULSE

With the head tilted back, feel for the Adam’s apple with two fingers. Slide your fingers back towards you in to the gap between the Adam’s apple and the strap muscle, and fell for the carotid pulse.

Feel for five seconds before deciding that the pulse is absent.