Surviving on Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation: The Role of Exhaled Oxygen

  • Thread starter Drakkith
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In summary: What do you mean the breathing might continue?What you are saying is that the person's breathing might continue even though they are giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
  • #1
Drakkith
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Just wondering if their is a maximum time a person could survive solely on air provided by another person giving them mouth-to-mouth. I've read a little on the subject, and it seems like there is enough oxygen left in a person's exhalations to keep someone alive for as long as mouth-to-mouth is required, but I just wanted to make sure.

Wiki says there is about 17% oxygen content in an exhaled breath since the the body only uses about 4 of the 21% oxygen in the air.
 
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  • #2
Drakkith said:
Wiki says there is about 17% oxygen content in an exhaled breath since the the body only uses about 4 of the 21% oxygen in the air.

Under what conditions? For "normal" breathing, your breathing rate adjusts to match your oxygen demand. AFAK the amount of CO2 in the exhaled air is one of the "signals" which controls the rate.

But mouth-to-mouth resuscitation isn't normal breathing - you are using your lungs as an air pump.
 
  • #3
The problem isn't so much with the slightly reduced O2 that you are giving the patient, the problem is with the extra CO2 that you are breathing into them. The extra CO2 leads to acidosis in the blood, which is not good for the body. The sooner that you can start ventilating them with O2 rather than your exhaled breaths, the better.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000092.htm

With O2 and good ventillations and compressions, folks have survived in the 40's of minutes, but it's rare:

http://www.procprblog.com/56-year-old-man-is-alive-after-47-minutes-of-cpr-with-aed
 
  • #4
mouth to mouth resuscitation means for continual of breathing although dec. breathing leads to respiratory acidosis
therefore amount of O2 in the other person continues breathing.
it advantages for only small interval of time until emergency services arrive !
 
  • #5
berkeman said:
The problem isn't so much with the slightly reduced O2 that you are giving the patient, the problem is with the extra CO2 that you are breathing into them. The extra CO2 leads to acidosis in the blood, which is not good for the body. The sooner that you can start ventilating them with O2 rather than your exhaled breaths, the better.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000092.htm

With O2 and good ventillations and compressions, folks have survived in the 40's of minutes, but it's rare:

http://www.procprblog.com/56-year-old-man-is-alive-after-47-minutes-of-cpr-with-aed

I wonder how long before acidosis is a concern. Let's say the heart is fine, and only breathing stops (say pentobarbital overdose) and one catches it exactly when breathing stops, so one only has to give artificial respiration until the drug wears off a bit (say 1 hour). Would acidosis be a concern over such a short period of time?
 
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  • #6
acidosis will increase respiration so the breathing might continue but the disadvantage is that acidosis
depress CNS activity which may lead to coma and certain death.
 
  • #7
Manish7 said:
acidosis will increase respiration so the breathing might continue but the disadvantage is that acidosis
depress CNS activity which may lead to coma and certain death.

What do you mean the breathing might continue?
 
  • #8
i was taking a case of acidosis not talking about mouth to mouth resuscitation.
 

What is mouth to mouth resuscitation?

Mouth to mouth resuscitation, also known as rescue breathing, is a first aid technique used to restore breathing in someone who has stopped breathing or is not breathing adequately. It involves blowing air into the person's lungs through their mouth, providing them with oxygen to help them resume breathing.

When should mouth to mouth resuscitation be performed?

Mouth to mouth resuscitation should be performed when someone is not breathing or is not breathing adequately. This can be due to a variety of reasons such as drowning, suffocation, or respiratory arrest. It is a crucial first aid technique that can save someone's life in an emergency situation.

How do you perform mouth to mouth resuscitation?

To perform mouth to mouth resuscitation, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure the person is lying on their back on a flat surface.
  2. Tilt their head back to open their airway.
  3. Pinch their nose closed with your fingers.
  4. Place your mouth over theirs, forming a seal.
  5. Blow into their mouth for about one second, watching for their chest to rise.
  6. Remove your mouth and allow their chest to fall.
  7. Repeat the cycle of one breath every five seconds until medical help arrives or the person starts breathing on their own.

Is mouth to mouth resuscitation safe?

Yes, mouth to mouth resuscitation is generally safe and can be performed on people of all ages, including infants and children. However, it is essential to take precautions if the person has a contagious disease or if their airway is blocked by a foreign object.

Do I need to be trained to perform mouth to mouth resuscitation?

While it is recommended to have training in first aid and CPR, anyone can perform mouth to mouth resuscitation in an emergency situation. However, if possible, it is best to have someone call emergency services while you perform the technique to ensure the person receives proper medical attention as soon as possible.

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