Why do I have to tilt their head back to check for breathing?When someone is unresponsive, their tongue can fall backwards and block their airway. Tilting their head backwards opens the airway by pulling the tongue forward. Show Back to questions What should I do if I hear noisy or irregular breathing?Sometimes when a person is unresponsive their breathing may become noisy or irregular, or they may be gasping. This is usually a sign that their heart is not working properly and you should start chest compressions. Back to questions What should I do if I’m on my own when I find someone unresponsive and not breathing?If you are on your own, call 999 before you start chest compressions. Back to questions What are chest compressions?Chest compressions are where you place your hands in the centre of the chest and repeatedly press downwards and release at a regular rate to help pump the blood around the body. Back to questions How long should I do chest compressions for?Keep going until help arrives. If there is someone else who can help, change over every minute or two. Try to keep doing chest compressions with as little interruption as possible when you change over. Back to questions If I press too hard during chest compressions, could I break their ribs?You might, but try not to worry. Your priority is to keep the blood circulating. A damaged rib will mend, but if you don’t do chest compressions their chances of survival are much lower. Back to questions Should I do chest compressions differently on a child or baby?Yes, chest compressions should be done slightly differently for children or for babies. For a child over one, use only one hand to do chest compressions. For a baby under a year old, use two fingers to do chest compressions. Find out: Back to questions What if I make a mistake and do chest compressions but the person is still breathing?It’s not ideal but don’t worry. There’s no evidence to suggest you will cause any serious damage. Back to questions Am I supposed to give rescue breaths too?If you feel able to, combine chest compressions with breathing into their mouth or nose. However, giving chest compressions is the most important thing to do because their blood already has some oxygen in it and the compressions will keep that blood pumping around their body, taking oxygen to their brain. Breathing into their mouth or nose tops up the oxygen in their lungs. The combination of continuous cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by two breaths is called CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Back to questions How do I give rescue breaths?If you feel able to give rescue breaths, you can do so after about 30 pushes on their chest. To give rescue breaths, tilt their head back and seal your mouth over either their mouth or nose. Blow air into them with two steady breaths. If you are breathing into the mouth, pinch the nose. If you’re breathing into the nose, shut their mouth. On a baby under a year old, seal your mouth around both their nose and mouth because their faces are small. Back to questions Will I restart the heart if I give chest compressions?The chance of restarting the heart by chest compressions alone is very small. Usually, a heart needs an electric shock from an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restart. Chest compressions pump a small amount of blood around the body to keep the organs alive, most importantly the brain. Don’t give up even if you do not see any change in the person’s condition. Chest compressions significantly increase the chance of the person surviving. Back to questions What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)?An AED is a machine that can be used to shock the heart back into normal rhythm. When you open an AED case it will give you full instructions on what you should do. Find out how to help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing when an AED is available. Back to questions What should I do if someone has been rescued from drowning and is unresponsive and not breathing?Get the person safely to dry land without putting yourself in danger. Check to see if they are breathing by tilting their head back and looking and feeling for breaths. If they are unresponsive and not breathing, push firmly downwards in the middle of their chest at a regular rate. Ideally, you should alternate two rescue breaths with 30 chest compressions for anyone who has been rescued from drowning. This will help build up a supply of oxygen in their blood. Back to questions Email us if you have any other questions about first aid for someone who is unresponsive and not breathing.
A stroke, or brain attack, happens when blood flow to your brain is stopped. It is an emergency situation. The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to work well. If blood supply is stopped even for a short time, this can cause problems. Brain cells begin to die after just a few minutes without blood or oxygen. When brain cells die, brain function is lost. You may not be able to do things that are controlled by that part of the brain. For example, a stroke may affect your ability to:
A stroke can happen to anyone at any time.
A stroke is caused when blood flow to your brain is stopped or disrupted. There are 2 kinds of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.
At just 47 years old, Amy wasn't expecting a stroke would leave her unable to identify or communicate with her own family members. See how the expertise of Dr. Rafael Llinas helped her get the diagnosis and treatment she needed.
Anyone can have a stroke at any age. But your chance of having a stroke increases if you have certain risk factors. Some risk factors for stroke can be changed or managed, while others can’t. Risk factors for stroke that can be changed, treated, or medically managed:
Risk factors for stroke that can’t be changed:
Other risk factors include:
At 88 years old, Mary is an avid Scrabble player and church choir singer. She knows her way around the iPad. And even after her stroke, she wasn’t about to give up her favorite things in life
A stroke is an emergency situation. It’s important to know the signs of a stroke and get help quickly. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Treatment is most effective when started right away. Stroke symptoms may happen suddenly. Each person’s symptoms may vary. Symptoms may include:
Other less common symptoms of stroke may include:
A TIA can cause many of the same symptoms as a stroke. But TIA symptoms are passing. They can last for a few minutes or up to 24 hours. Call for medical help right away if you think someone is having a TIA. It may be a warning sign that a stroke is about to occur. But not all TIAs are followed by a stroke.
FAST is an easy way to remember the signs of a stroke. When you see these signs, you will know that you need to call 911 fast. FAST stands for: F - Face drooping. One side of the face is drooping or numb. When the person smiles, the smile is uneven. A - Arm weakness. One arm is weak or numb. When the person lifts both arms at the same time, one arm may drift downward. S - Speech difficulty. You may see slurred speech or difficulty speaking. The person can't repeat a simple sentence correctly when asked. T - Time to call 911. If someone shows any of these symptoms, call 911 right away. Call even if the symptom goes away. Make note of the time the symptoms first appeared. How is a stroke diagnosed?Your healthcare provider will take a complete health history and do a physical exam. You will need tests for stroke such as brain imaging and measuring the blood flow in the brain. Tests may include:
The following heart tests may also be used to help diagnose heart problems that may have led to a stroke:
How is a stroke treated?Your healthcare provider will create a care plan for you based on:
There is no cure for stroke once it has occurred. But advanced medical and surgical treatments are available. These can help reduce your risk for another stroke. Treatment is most effective when started right away. Emergency treatment after a stroke may include:
What are the complications of having a stroke?Recovery from stroke and the specific ability affected depends on the size and location of the stroke. A small stroke may cause problems such as weakness in your arm or leg. Larger strokes may cause parts of your body to not be able to move (be paralyzed). Larger strokes can also cause loss of speech or even death. What can I do to prevent a stroke?Know your risk for stroke. Many stroke risk factors can be changed, treated, or medically modified. Some things you can do to control your risk factors are listed below. Lifestyle changesA healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk for stroke. That includes the following:
MedicinesTake your medicines as instructed by your healthcare provider. The following medicines can help prevent stroke:
SurgerySeveral types of surgery may be done to help treat a stroke, or help to prevent one. These include:
Living with a strokeHow a stroke affects you depends on where the stroke occurs in your brain. It also depends on how much your brain is damaged. Many people who have a stroke are left with paralysis of one of their arms. Other problems can include having trouble with:
Some people may need long-term physical rehabilitation. They may not be able to live in their home without help. Support services are available to help with physical and emotional needs after a stroke. When should I call my healthcare provider?Strokes can happen again. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that seem like a stroke, even if they don’t last long. If you have repeated damage to your brain tissue, you may be at risk for life-long (permanent) disabilities. Stroke: Key points
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