Maintaining or restoring life is the next goal. Follow the steps below and click on your answers to the questions.

Is the victim breathing?

Return to Primary Assessment

Maintaing an open airway and maintaing the comfort of the victim is what has to be done now.

Is the victim still breathing?

Return to Primary Assessment

Try to deliver the first rescue breath to the victim.

Is Air entering the victim?

Return to Primary Assessment

Continue the procedure that brought you here until more qualified medical personnel take over.

The victim must now be prepared for transport to a life support unit. .

Click here for Primary Assessment

Give two full rescue breaths lasting 1 to 1-1/2 seconds each.

Check for pulse in the carotid artery on the side of the neck. Is a pulse present?

Return to Primary Assessment

Re-establish the airway by retilting the head. Either the chin-lift or jaw-thrust method may be used. Try again to give a rescue breath.

Is air now entering the victim?

Return to Primary Assessment

Since air is still not entering, the airway must be blocked with something. Use the heimlich maneuver and/or perform finger sweeps to clear the obstruction. Try again to give a rescue breath.

Is air now entering the victim?

Return to Primary Assessment

The airway must still be blocked with something. Continue using the heimlich maneuver in an attemp to clear the obstruction. Check the head tilt and again try to give a rescue breath.

If the airway can't be cleared, continue trying and prepare for transport.

Go here if the airway is cleared.

Return to Primary Assessment

Continue giving one full rescue breath every five seconds. About every minute or two recheck to be sure the carotid pulse is still present.

• The victim has a pulse.
• The victim has NO pulse.

Return to Primary Assessment

Perform CPR giving two full breaths after each 15 compressions. Four cycles of 15 compressions/two breaths should be given each minute.

Continue CPR and prepare the victim for transport.

Return to Primary Assessment