Stopped Breathing

A human brain will survive without oxygen no more than about five minutes before suffering serious damage. At normal temperatures, a per- son cannot live without air for more than ten minutes. Rescue breathing can keep someone alive until he recovers or help arrives.

1 Open the airway:
a. The airway is the passage that allows air entering the mouth or nose to reach the lungs. A person cannot breathe if his air- way is blocked by the back of the tongue, a chunk of food, or anything else.

b, If a victim is unconscious, place him on his back, Clear his tongue from his airway ,by pressing on his forehead with one hand and lifting his chin with the other to tilt his head back. (If you think his neck might be injured, keep his head still and thrust his jaw forward.)

c. Look in his mouth for gum, food, or other obstructions. Remove them by sweeping them out with your index finger.

Someone who is choking on food might grasp his throat to signal that he is unable to breathe. Treat by performing hte Heimlich maneuver (see pages 296-297).

d. Protect the airway of any accident victim. If he begins to vomit, turn him on his side so that the vomit comes out his mouth rather than getting into his lungs.