Mr. Noel Dancy, Division Manager of FSG’s Health & Safety Division explains how to open an unconscious casualties’ airway correctly and safely. Mr. Dancy has been practicing first aid for over 38 years and training people for more than 20 years. He is a Trainer/Assessor for St John Ambulance and the Royal Lifesaving Society, and a Senior Tutor with the Swimming Teachers Association for First Aid and Professional Lifeguard Training. Over the past seven years, Mr. Dancy has trained tens of thousands of people in the UAE.
When someone becomes unconscious their muscles relax and if they are lying on their back the tongue can fall back into the throat blocking the airway, sometimes known by the layman as “swallowing your tongue”. The tongue is connected to the lower jaw, which may also relax.
The correct way to open an airway is to stabilise the head by holding the forehead and supporting the chin with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. Gently open the mouth and check inside for any foreign objects and/or loose dentures. If there is a blockage, remove it unless it is at the back of the throat. Experienced first aiders, please note that the old “finger sweep” is no longer practiced, as it has been proven to cause more problems by forcing the blockage deeper into the throat. You now know the airway is clear, but is it open?
To open the airway, gently tilt the head by pressing on the forehead and at the same time lifting the chin. This will move the tongue away from the throat and will allow the casualty to breathe (if they still can). Prove it to yourself by allowing your head to fall forward, mouth open and chin resting on your chest. Try to breathe hard and fast. Feel the restriction? Now look up at the sky and try again. Feels much easier doesn’t it?
If the casualty has been unconscious for only a short time, they may well start to breathe of their own accord. If this happens, you should roll them onto their side to maintain an open airway. The tongue may still be relaxed and block the throat again, or they may have swallowed some water which they may try to vomit as they regain consciousness.
If you do move an unconscious casualty, remember that their muscles will still be relaxed and they will need careful support, especially around the head. There is a technique known as the Recovery Position, which allows even a lone child to move a heavy adult casualty safely. Working on the assumption of an untrained person on a crowded beach, you should have lots of helpers to ensure the casualty is fully supported in any move.
If the casualty does not start breathing on their own once the airway is open, you can still save their life by giving CardioPumonaryResuscitation (CPR), though to be safe you should attend a proper course. Watching the guys on Baywatch doesn’t count! Courses are available from Health & Safety Division either at our facility or we can run a course for a small group at your workplace or apartment. It really is very easy to save a life, once you know how!
I always tell my students I hope they never have to use their skills, but like riding a bicycle you never forget the basics of first aid. |