b. Administer Two Full Breaths.
(1)
Open your mouth wide and take a deep breath.
(2) Place your mouth over the casualty's mouth. Make sure that your mouth
forms a good seal around the casualty's mouth so air will not escape when you blow air
into the casualty's mouth. Make sure that the fingertips under the chin keep the jaw
lifted. Maintaining the open airway will keep the casualty's mouth open slightly.
(3) Blow a breath into the casualty's mouth (figure 3-4). As you blow,
observe the casualty's chest. If air is getting into the casualty's lungs, his chest will rise.
(4) After blowing the first breath, quickly take a deep breath, seal your
mouth over the casualty's mouth again, and blow. Administering the two breaths
(ventilations) should take about 3 to 4 seconds.
Figure 3-4. Administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
(5) Break the seal over the casualty's mouth and release his nose. This will
allow the casualty's body to exhale.
CAUTION:
If you cannot seal off the casualty's nose or if the casualty has injuries to
his mouth or jaw area that prevent you from administering mouth-to-
mouth resuscitation, administer mouth-to-nose resuscitation instead.
Close the casualty's mouth so air will not escape, seal your mouth over
the casualty's nose, and blow the two breaths (ventilations) into his
nostrils. Rates for mouth-to-nose respiration are the same as for mouth-
to-mouth respirations.
c. Evaluate Effectiveness of the Ventilations.
(1)
If the casualty begins breathing again on his own, look for injuries.
(2) If air goes in and out of the casualty's lungs (chest rises and falls) but he
does not start breathing on his own, check his pulse.
MD0877
3-6
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