Airway: You need to make sure the airway is open before you check their breathing. To do this, tilt back their head and lift up their chin. [2] X Research source If you see an object obstructing the airway, remove it. Breathing: Lean in closely to listen for breathing. Look to see if their chest is rising and falling. [3] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Circulation: Feel for a pulse. Signs of circulatory issues include color changes, sweating, and a lower level of consciousness. [4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Never shake a child or infant. This can lead to serious injury. [5] X Research source
If there is someone else there other than you, make them call 911 while you start working on the person in need. They can also run and grab the AED from its location. This way things will get done faster, which is important with SCA. [6] X Research source
Give 30 chest compressions and then 2 rescue breaths for every 30 chest compressions. The rescue breaths should be no longer than one second. Avoid overventilation and only provide enough air to see the chest expand. Keep chest compressions to 100 compressions per minute. Do not exceed 125 compressions per minute. You should compress the chest 2 inches (5 cm) downwards and allow it to fully expand upwards with as few interruptions as possible. You should give CPR right away if you don’t know how long a person has been unconscious, then you should use the AED. [7] X Research source
Water conducts electricity. If the patient is wet or if there is water nearby, they can be seriously injured. [8] X Research source
It will also instruct you to prepare the person once the pads are plugged in.
Most AEDs come with a razor to shave or scissor to trim the chest of a hairy person. You will be able to see a pacemaker or other implanted device through the chest. You can also look for a medical alert bracelet. If the victim is wearing a bra, you need to take it off if it has underwire in it. It can conduct electricity just like jewelry. [9] X Research source
Make sure there is no fabric or other object between the pads and their skin. Any obstruction will make the AED malfunction. If the pads are not put on properly, the AED may repeat “check electrodes. " If you found an implanted device or piercing, the pads should be at least 1 inch from them. [10] X Research source
The AED will then tell you if a shock is needed or if you need to keep doing CPR. If no shock is needed, this means that the victim has regained a pulse or has an unshockable heart rhythm. If there is no shock advised, you need to continue CPR until emergency workers arrive.
The AED will only give one shock at a time. It doesn’t last that long, but expect them to move with the force of the shock.
You should also stop if the victim can breathe on their own or if they regain consciousness. [11] X Trustworthy Source Nature Respected Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal Go to source The AED will likely remind you when 2 minutes has passed and tell you to stop CPR.
