7: Airway

Cognitive Objectives (1 of 5)

2-1.1 Name and label the major structures of the

respiratory system on a diagram.
2-1.2 List signs of adequate breathing.
2-1.3 List signs of inadequate breathing.
2-1.4 Describe the steps in performing the head tilt-chin
lift maneuver.
2-1.5 Relate mechanism of injury to opening the airway.
2-1.6 Describe the steps in performing the jaw-thrust
maneuver.
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 Cognitive Objectives (2 of 5)

2-1.7 State the importance of having suction ready for

immediate use when providing emergency care.
2-1.8 Describe the techniques of suctioning.
2-1.9 Describe how to artificially ventilate a patient
with a pocket mask.
2-1.10 Describe the steps in performing the skill of
artificially ventilating a patient with a bag-valve-
mask device while using the jaw-thrust maneuver.

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 Cognitive Objectives (3 of 5)

2-1.11 List the parts of the bag-valve-mask system.

2-1.12 Describe the steps in performing the skill of
artificially ventilating a patient with a bag-valve-
mask device for one and two rescuers.
2-1.13 Describe the signs of adequate artificial
ventilation using the bag-valve-mask device.
2-1.14 Describe the signs of inadequate artificial
ventilation using the bag-valve-mask device.
2-1.15 Describe the steps in ventilating a patient with a
flow-restricted oxygen-powered ventilation device.

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 Cognitive Objectives (4 of 5)

2-1.16 List the steps in performing the actions taken

when providing mouth-to-mouth and mouth-to-
stoma ventilation.
2-1.17 Describe how to measure and insert
oropharyngeal (oral) airway.
2-1.18 Describe how to measure and insert a
nasopharyngeal (nasal) airway.
2-1.19 Define the components of an oxygen delivery
system.
2-1.20 Identify a nonrebreathing face mask and state
the oxygen flow requirements needed for its use.
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 Cognitive Objectives (5 of 5)
2-1.21 Describe the indications for using a nasal
cannula versus a nonrebreathing face mask.
2-1.22 Identify a nasal cannula and state the flow
requirements needed for its use.

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 Affective Objectives

2-1.23 Explain the rationale for basic life support,

artificial ventilation, and airway protective skills
taking priority over most other basic life support
skills.
2-1.24 Explain the rationale for providing adequate
oxygenation through high inspired oxygen
concentrations to patients who, in the past,
may have received low concentrations.

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 Psychomotor Objectives (1 of 4)
2-1.25 Demonstrate the steps in performing the head
tilt- chin lift maneuver.
2-1.26 Demonstrate the steps in performing the jaw-
thrust maneuver.
2-1.27 Demonstrate the techniques of suctioning.
2-1.28 Demonstrate the steps in providing mouth-to-
mouth artificial ventilation with body substance
isolation (barrier shields).
2-1.29 Demonstrate how to use a pocket mask to
artificially ventilate a patient.

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 Psychomotor Objectives (2 of 4)
2-1.30 Demonstrate the assembly of a bag-valve-mask
unit.
2-1.31 Demonstrate the steps in performing the skill of
artificially ventilating a patient with a bag-valve-
mask device for one and two rescuers.
2-1.32 Demonstrate the steps in performing the skill of
artificially ventilating a patient with a bag-valve-
mask device while using the jaw-thrust maneuver.
2-1.33 Demonstrate artificial ventilation of a patient with
a flow-restricted, oxygen-powered ventilation device.

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 Psychomotor Objectives (3 of 4)
2-1.34 Demonstrate how to artificially ventilate a
patient with a stoma.
2-1.35 Demonstrate how to insert an oropharyngeal
(oral) airway.
2-1.36 Demonstrate how to insert a nasopharyngeal
(nasal) airway.
2-1.37 Demonstrate the correct operation of oxygen
tanks and regulators.
2-1.38 Demonstrate the use of a nonrebreathing face
mask and state the oxygen flow requirements
needed for its use.

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 Psychomotor Objectives (4 of 4)
2-1.39 Demonstrate the use of a nasal cannula and
state the flow requirements needed for its use.
2-1.40 Demonstrate how to artificially ventilate the
infant and child patient.
2-1.41 Demonstrate oxygen administration for the
infant and child patient.

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 Additional Objectives*
1. Describe how to perform the Sellick maneuver
(cricoid pressure).
2. Explain the rationale for applying cricoid pressure.
3. Demonstrate how to perform the Sellick maneuver
(cricoid pressure).

• These are noncurriculum objectives.

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Anatomy Review

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 Breathing Process: Inhalation
• Active part of breathing
• Diaphragm and intercostal muscles
contract, allowing the lungs to expand.
• The decrease in pressure allows lungs to fill
with air.
• Air travels to the alveoli where exchange of
gases occurs.

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 Breathing Process: Exhalation
• Does not normally require muscular effort
• Diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax.
• The thorax decreases in size, and ribs and
muscles assume their normal positions.
• The increase in pressure forces air out.

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The Body’s Need for Oxygen

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 Gas Exchange
• Inhalation delivers oxygen-
rich air to alveoli.
• Oxygen diffuses into the
blood.
• Breathing is primarily
adjusted by the level of
carbon dioxide in the blood.

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 Hypoxia
• Not enough oxygen for metabolic needs
• Develops when patient is:
– Breathing inadequately
– Not breathing

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 Signs of Hypoxia
• Nervousness, irritability, and fear
• Tachycardia
• Mental status changes
• Use of accessory muscles for breathing
• Difficulty breathing, possible chest pain

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 Conditions Resulting in Hypoxia
• Myocardial infarction • Chest injury
• Pulmonary edema • Shock
• Acute narcotic overdose • Lung disease
• Smoke inhalation • Asthma
• Stroke • Premature birth

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Recognizing Adequate Breathing
• Normal rate and depth
• Regular pattern
• Regular and equal chest rise and fall
• Adequate depth

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 Normal Respiration Rates
• Adults 12 to 20 breaths/min

• Children 15 to 30 breaths/min

• Infants 25 to 50 breaths/min

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 Recognizing Inadequate Breathing
• Fast or slow rate
• Irregular rhythm
• Abnormal lung sounds
• Reduced tidal volumes
• Use of accessory muscles
• Cool, damp, pale or cyanotic
skin

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 Head Tilt–Chin Lift
• Kneel beside patient’s
head.
• Place one hand on
forehead.
• Apply backward pressure.
• Place tips of finger under
lower jaw.
• Lift chin.
Head tilt-chin lift

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 Jaw-Thrust Maneuver
• Kneel above patient’s head.
• Place fingers behind angle of lower jaw.
• Use thumbs to position the lower jaw.

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Assessment of the Airway (1of 2)

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 Assessment of the Airway (2 of 2)
• Assess whether breathing has returned using look,
listen, and feel technique.
– Listen by placing your ear about 10 inches above
patient’s nose and mouth.
– Feel and listen for movement of air.
– Watch the patient’s chest and abdomen.
– Place a hand on patient’s chest to feel for
movement.

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 Severe Airway Obstruction

• There will be no movement of air.

• Chest and abdomen may rise and fall with
patient’s attempts to breathe.
• Chest wall movement alone does not
indicate breathing.
• Always use three-part approach: look, listen, and feel
for movement of air.

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 Basic Airway Adjuncts (1 of 6)
• Oropharyngeal airways
– Keep the tongue from
blocking the upper airway
– Allow for easier suctioning
of the airway
– Used in conjunction with
BVM device
– Used on unconscious
patients without a gag
reflex
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 Basic Airway Adjuncts (2 of 6)
Inserting an oropharyngeal airway
1. Select the proper size airway.
2. Open the patient’s mouth.
3. Hold the airway upside down and insert
it in the patient’s mouth.
4. Rotate the airway 180° until the flange
rests on the patient’s lips.

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 Basic Airway Adjuncts (3 of 6)
1

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 Basic Airway Adjuncts (4 of 6)
• Nasopharyngeal airways
– Conscious patients who cannot maintain
airway
– Can be used with intact gag reflex
– Should not be used with head injuries or
nosebleeds

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 Basic Airway Adjuncts (5 of 6)
Inserting a nasopharyngeal airway
1. Select the proper size airway.
2. Lubricate the airway.
3. Gently push the nostril open.
4. With the bevel turned toward the
septum, insert the airway.

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 Basic Airway Adjuncts (6 of 6)

1 2

3 4

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Suctioning Equipment (1 of 2)

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Suction Equipment (2 of 2)

French, or whistle-tip, catheter

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 Suctioning Technique (1 of 2)
• Check the unit and turn it on.
• Select and measure proper catheter to be used.
• Open the patient’s mouth and insert tip.
• Suction as you withdraw the catheter.
• Never suction adults for more than 15 seconds.

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 Suctioning Technique (2 of 2)
1 2

3 4

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Recovery Position

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 Supplemental Oxygen
• All patients in cardiac arrest should get oxygen.
• Any patient with a respiratory or cardiac emergency
needs oxygen.
• Never withhold oxygen from anyone who may
benefit from it.

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Supplemental Oxygen Equipment
• Oxygen cylinders
– Available as a compressed
combustible gas
– Available in several sizes
– Pin-indexing safety system
– Oxygen regulators
– Humidified oxygen

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 Oxygen Flowmeters

• Pressure-compensated flowmeter
– Affected by gravity; must be kept
upright
• Bourdon-gauge flowmeter
– Not affected by gravity; can be
used in any position

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Using Supplemental Oxygen (1 of 2)
• Inspect cylinder and markings.

• “Crack” the cylinder.

• Attach the regulator/flowmeter.

• Open the cylinder.

• Attach proper delivery device to flowmeter.

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Using Supplemental Oxygen (2 of 2)
• Adjust flowmeter to desired flow rate.
• Apply the oxygen device to the patient.
• When done, discard the delivery device.
• Turn off the flowmeter.

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 Hazards of Oxygen
• Oxygen supports combustion.

• Keep possible ignition sources away from the

area.

• Oxygen tanks are under high pressure.

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 Oxygen Delivery Equipment
• Nonrebreathing mask
– Provides up to 90%
oxygen
– Used at 10 to 15 L/min

• Nasal cannula
– Provides 24% to 44%
oxygen
– Used at 1 to 6 L/min

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 Methods of Ventilation
• Mouth to mask

• Two-person BVM device

• Flow-restricted,
oxygen-powered device

• One-person BVM device

Bag-valve-mask

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 Rate of Artificial Ventilations
Adult — 1 breath every 5-6 seconds
Children — 1 breath every 3-5 seconds
Infants — 1 breath every 3-5 seconds

Bag-valve-mask

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 Mouth-to-Mask Technique (1 of 2)
• Kneel at patient’s head and open airway.
• Place the mask on the patient’s face.
• Take a deep breath and breathe into the patient for
1 second.
• Remove your mouth and watch for patient’s chest to
fall.

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Mouth-to-Mask Technique (2 of 2)

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 Bag-Valve-Mask Device
• Can deliver more than 90% oxygen
• Delivers less tidal volume than mouth-to-mask
• Requires practice to be proficient
• May be used with advanced airways

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Bag-Valve-Mask Components

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 Two-Person BVM Technique (1 of 2)
• Insert an oral airway.
• One caregiver maintains seal while the other
delivers ventilations.
• Place mask on patient’s face.
• Squeeze bag to deliver ventilations.

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Two-Person BVM Technique (2 of 2)

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One-Person BVM Technique

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Flow-Restricted, Oxygen-Powered
Devices

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Ongoing Assessment of Ventilation
• Adequate Ventilation
– Equal chest rise and fall
– Ventilating at appropriate rate
– Heart rate returns to normal
• Inadequate Ventilation
– Minimal or no chest rise and fall
– Ventilations too fast or slow
– Heart rate does not return to normal

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 Sellick Maneuver
• Also referred to as cricoid pressure.
• Use on unconscious patients to prevent
gastric distention.
• Place pressure on cricoid with thumb and
index finger.

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 Gastric Distention
• Artificial ventilation fills stomach with air.
• Occurs if ventilations are too forceful or too
frequent or when airway is blocked
• May cause patient to vomit and increase risk
of aspiration

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 Stomas and Tracheostomy Tubes
• Ventilations are delivered
through the stoma.
• Attach BVM device to tube or
use infant mask.
• Stoma may need to be
suctioned.

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Causes of Foreign Body Obstruction
• Relaxation of the tongue
• Vomited stomach contents
• Blood clots, bone fragments, damaged
tissue
• Swelling caused by allergic reactions
• Foreign objects

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Recognizing an Obstruction (1 of 2)
• Obstruction may be mild or severe.
• Is patient able to speak or cough?
• If patient is unconscious, attempt to
deliver artificial ventilation.

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Removing an Obstruction (2 of 2)
• Perform Heimlich maneuver.
• Use suction if needed.
• If attempts to clear the airway are
unsuccessful, transport rapidly.

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