Methods of Artificial Breathing

Artificial breathing makes it possible to live through a respiratory emergency. It's also used during surgery and for life support in hospitals. Artificial breathing includes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), hand pumps and oxygen tanks. Civilians trained in CPR can provide aid to an individual in distress due to a heart attack, drowning or other emergency.

Ventilator

• Developed in 1670, the iron lung was the first ventilator and utilized external negative pressure to enlarge the chest cavity and cause the lungs to draw in air.

  Modern ventilators use positive pressure. An oxygen source pumps air through an endotracheal tube inserted in the patient's windpipe.

CPR

• In 1954, James Elam proved that breathing into a distressed individual provided enough oxygen to keep him alive.

  The rescuer tilts the victim's head back, pinches the nose closed and covers the victim's mouth with his own. The next step is blowing until the victim's chest rises. Today it's known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Other Methods

• When severe facial injuries prevent using the mouth for resuscitation, rescuers perform mouth to nose. It's performed by closing the individual's mouth and breathing into the nose. Release of the mouth is necessary to permit exhalation.

  To resuscitate a child, the rescuer's mouth covers and seals the child's mouth and nose.

  Rescuers prefer using mouth to mask resuscitation which avoids direct contact with the victim's mouth. A mask fits securely over the individual's mouth and nose. The rescuer administers breaths through a valve.

  A hand-pumped bag with a mask attached is used by most emergency squads. The mask is similar to the one used in mouth to mask. The bag provides the air.

  Like endotrachael tubes, nasal catheters accept oxygen from oxygen tanks.