4.0 Standard Operating Procedure: The Adult Patient
The following protocol outlines the standardized steps for administering artificial respiration to an adult. Execute these steps precisely and in sequence to ensure patient safety and maximize effectiveness.
- Scene Safety and Patient Assessment First, ensure the scene is safe. Check for hazards like traffic, fire, or electrical wires. Once secure, check the patient for responsiveness by tapping their shoulder and shouting. If there is no response, immediately call for emergency medical services (e.g., 112) or direct someone else to do so.
- Airway Management Lay the patient on their back on a firm, flat surface. Open the airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver. Place one hand on the patient’s forehead and apply firm pressure to tilt the head back. Place two fingers of your other hand under the bony part of the chin and lift. This action lifts the tongue from the back of the throat, preventing it from falling back and blocking the airway.
- Breathing Assessment (Look, Listen, Feel) With the airway open, perform a 10-second check for breathing. Place your ear close to the patient’s mouth and nose while looking toward their chest.
- Look for chest rise and fall.
- Listen for audible breath sounds.
- Feel for exhaled air on your cheek. If there are no signs of normal breathing, you must begin rescue breaths.
- Administering Rescue Breaths Pinch the patient’s nostrils closed with the hand that is on their forehead. Take a normal breath and create a complete seal over the patient’s mouth with yours. Deliver a steady breath for approximately 1 second, watching for visible chest rise. Remove your mouth, allow the chest to fall, and then deliver a second breath.
The core principles are universal. However, infant anatomy demands significant procedural modifications. Do not use the adult protocol on an infant.