Patients not breathing will not show any signs of life

​

This is an emergency and someone needs to call 999 and tell them the patient is not breathing

​​​​

Particularly after a bad crash, bystanders may worry about injuring the spine , but you need to act rapidly or they will die. 

​​​​

If the patient is face down or on their side you will need to roll them over onto their back.

​

(ideally , if there is more than one of you , you can roll them over together minimising spinal movement , but do not delay if help is not immediately available)

​​​

If there are no signs of life and not breathing you need to act fast 

​

If there is massive haemorrhage (spurting blood) - you need to address that first then come back here)

​​​​

Helmet off 

​

Their helmet needs to come off to open the airway

ideally this is a two person job, but do it on your own if necessary 

​​​​

(i will add a video of how to remove a helmet as safely as possible on your own )

​​​

Open Airway 

once the helmet is off - you need to open the airway

​​​

A jaw thrust is the ideal technique in trauma (You may have previously been taught the chin lift in other CPR lessons)

​

CPR with breaths and chest compressions

​

If the patient does not start breathing with the airway open..Then start CPR​ - get help to call 999 and describe it as a "traumatic arrest"  to get the right people on route 

​​

CPR should ideally contain mouth to mouth breaths delivered by you (and not just chest compressions)  and continued as 30 compressions to 2 breaths until EMS arrives. 

​​

A pocket mask or face shield can protect you if you do not wish to do mouth to mouth on a stranger 

​​

link to face shield / pocket mask 

link to trauma CPR training ​​​​​​

link how to do chest compressions / mouth to mouth 

​

​