(2) Feel for breathing by placing your hand or cheek about 1 inch above the
casualty's mouth and nose. Feel for air being exhaled.
NOTE:
If the casualty is not breathing, stop the evaluation to restore the airway.
NOTE:
In a combat situation, if you find a casualty with no signs of life (no
breathing and no pulse), do not attempt to restore the airway. Do not
attempt to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Do not continue first
aid measures.
(3) Count the casualty's respirations (one inhalation and one expiration
together is one respiration) for 15 seconds. If the casualty has less than two
respirations during the 15 seconds, a nasopharyngeal airway may be required.
b. Expose the casualty's chest to look for equal rise and fall of the chest and for
wounds.
(1) If the casualty's chest is not rising and falling evenly, make a mental
note and proceed with the evaluation.
(2) If the casualty has a penetrating chest wound and is breathing or making
an effort to breathe, stop the evaluation and apply an occlusive dressing (see
Lesson 4) to seal the penetrating wound.
NOTE:
Check for entrance and exit wounds to the chest. If an entrance wound and
an exit wound are present, both must be sealed.
(3) If the casualty has a penetrating chest wound, is not breathing, and is
making no effort to breathe, do not attempt to treat the injury.
2-7.
CHECKING THE CASUALTY FOR BLEEDING
a. Look for blood-soaked clothes.
b. Look for entry and exit wounds.
c. Place your hands behind the casualty's neck and pass them upward toward
the top of the head. Note whether there is blood or brain tissue on your hands from the
casualty's wounds.
d. Place your hands behind the casualty's shoulders and pass them downward
behind the back, the thighs, and the legs. Note whether there is blood on your hands
from the casualty's wounds.
e. If life-threatening bleeding from an extremity (arm or leg) is present, stop the
evaluation and control the bleeding using a tourniquet (see Lesson 5.)
IS0871
2-5
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