FA5 Asphyxia 25 0 Asphyxia is a potentially fatal condition which occurs if there is insufficient .....available to the tissues. oxygen nitrogen carbon dioxide glucose Starved of oxygen, how long (approximately) can vital nerve cells in the brain survive? 3-4 minutes 12 minutes 1-2 minutes 30 seconds What is the average breathing rate of an adult at rest? (breaths per minute) 16-18 8-10 25-30 60-65 Which of these could cause Asphyxia: choking? gas leaks? drowning? poisoning? fits? suffocation? electric shocks? All of them All except electric shocks All except poisoning All except fits One of the signs of Asphyxia is "cyanosis" - colouring of lips and fingernails. What colour would you observe? Bluish Cherry red Yellowish White If a patient was becoming asphyxiated, how would you expect the rate and depth of breathing to be? Rapid and deep Slow and shallow An unconscious casualty left lying on his back can become asphyxiated by what? tongue falling back; vomit saliva draining into the lungs build-up of carbon dioxide gas reduced breathing efficiency In asphyxia by drowning, what in many cases prevents water from entering the lungs? spasm of the throat foreign body entering mouth victim holding his breath internal air pressure In cases of strangling, hanging and throttling, air isprevented from reaching the lungs by constriction of what? the trachea the oesophagus the carotid artery the spinal cord One of the signs of asphyxia by choking or strangulation isknown as CONGESTION of the face and neck. What causes it? impaired venous blood flow impaired arterial blood flow lack of oxygen in tissues constriction of the trachea What is the first priority when dealing with a case of hanging, strangulation or throttling? to remove the cause to call an ambulance to check patient's pulse to reassure the patient If you were slapping your patient smartly between the shoulder blades several times,you would be attempting to ..? dislodge an airway obstruction restart his heart induce vomiting resuscitate (Silvester method) Before attempting to dislodge obstructions by slapping a patient's back, how should youfirst position him or her? bend over forwards, head low face down on floor recovery position If a qualified First Aider wasusing the "abdominal thrust" technique, what condition would he be treating? Choking Suffocation Heart failure Asphyxia by drowning What is the danger associated with the "abdominal thrust" technique for treating a casualty who is choking? damage to internal organs it may cause heart failure it expels all air from lungs recovery will be temporary Following a sting, scald or infection in the throat, asphyxia may be caused by what? swelling of tissues internal bleeding increased risk of pneumonia spontaneous asthma attack In a patient suffering from anasthma attack, what physical change occurs which accounts for difficulty in breathing? narrowing of bronchial tubes inflammation of the trachea spasm of the diaphragm inflammation of lungs Carbon dioxide gas can cause asphyxia as a result of the inhaled air being ...........? deficient in oxygen poisonous too rich in oxygen toxic In aircraft emergencies oxygenis sometimes provided for all passengers. This is because air at high altitudes contains insufficient oxygen poisonous substances insufficient carbon dioxide frozen water vapour Which gas (abundant in car exhaust fumes) can replace oxygen already present in the bloodstream causing asphyxia? carbon monoxide carbon dioxide methane sulphur dioxide A casualty trapped by a fall of rocks or earth may suffer from asphyxia even though his mouth and nose are clear. How? compression of the chest shock causing spasm of throat excessive dust entering lungs result of histamine poisoning "Mouth-to-mouth", "Silvester" and "Holger-Nielsen" are all methods of what? artificial ventilation spreading disease heart massage When would you commence mouth-to-mouth ventilation for a patient suffering from asphyxia? when breathing fails as soon as cyanosis observed when consciousness is lost as soon as asphyxia diagnosed When using mouth-to-mouth ventilation, in which cases would you inflate the lungs byblowing into mouth AND nose? for children and infants in cases of drowning if an obstruction is suspected if poisoning is suspected What type of injury causes thecondition known as "paradoxical breathing"? multiple fractures of chest spinal injury skull fracture a stab wound