Respiration and Breathing

Video 23 of 206

3 min 8 sec

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Recognizing Breathing Difficulties in First Aid

Normal Breathing Signs

Rising and Falling Chest: Look for the chest's symmetrical rise and fall on both sides.
Sign of Comfort: The patient should display no signs of distress.
Steady Breath: Breathing should be quiet, regular, and consistent.

Signs of Breathing Difficulty

When someone experiences difficulty breathing, there are key indicators to observe:

Distress: They may appear distressed and anxious.
Conscious Effort: The individual might consciously think about their breathing, which is unusual.
Rapid Respiration: Their respiratory rate and effort will increase significantly.
Asthma Symptoms: In cases of asthma, they may wheeze or describe tightness in the chest.
Symmetrical Chest Movement: Even when experiencing difficulty, their chest should still rise and fall equally on both sides.

First Aid for Asthma

When assisting an asthma patient:

Comfortable Position: Allow them to sit in a position they find most comfortable; they often prefer sitting down with hunched shoulders.
Respect Their Choice: Let the patient decide the position that suits them best.

Recognizing Serious Conditions

Some serious conditions affecting breathing include:

Pneumothorax: In this condition, one lung isn't functioning correctly.
Severe Distress: Patients with pneumothorax will be incredibly distressed, express an inability to breathe, and seek help.
Asymmetrical Chest Movement: With pneumothorax, only one side of the chest will visibly move; the affected side won't.

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