Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation attack: short rapid breathing, (like the person's been running for a while)

Hyperventilation can be brought on by a number of factors, they include:

* Anxiety (the most common cause)

* Severe stomach pains.

* Heart or lung disease.

* Extensive physical injuries.

The symptoms usually last 15 to 30 minutes, and can seem like hours to anyone having them. Though very frightening for the patient and indeed for the onlooker, hyperventilation is not usually dangerous. Breathing into a paper bag increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood and relieves the symptoms.

Follow these steps for self help:

Loosely cover your nose and mouth with a small paper bag.

Breathe slowly into the bag and rebreathe the air in the bag about 10 times.

Set the bag aside and breathe normally for a couple of minutes.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the symptoms lessen or go away.

Try to breathe slowly. Focus on taking one breath every 5 seconds.

Treatment.
To treat someone who is hyperventilating.

* Avoid becoming caught up in the panic  (remain calm )

* Make direct eye contact, and speak clearly and slowly.

* Identify yourself if you're not known to the person.

* Give short clear instructions.

* Make calming gestures.

* Allow the casualty some space ( don't crowd them in )

* Minimize embarrassment and avoid an audience.

* Get them to sit down, if they aren't already.

* Sit with them at eye level

* Encourage them to breathe normally. (talk them through the breathing cycle)

* Inhale, take in long slow deep breath. ( breathe with them )

* Hold breath for 2 seconds.

* Exhale slowly, ( pucker your lips like you're going to kiss )

* Tell them to relax in a clam voice, just before they reach the end of exhalation.

* Start a new breathing cycle while telling them how well they are doing.

* Continue encouraging them to breathe normally.

Try these breathing exercises on yourself first ! (sitting or lying
down)


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I would like to thank the IEASR for allowing me to convert their pages over to the Pilot.

Gordon Thomas
#admin@dogpatch.org (Remove the # character in order to e-mail.)
http://www.dogpatch.org

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DISCLAIMER:
Information in these files is presented in order to impart  general information relating to first aid of various injuries and conditions. Such information is not  complete and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation or visit with your physician or other health care provider, or as a substiture for actual training in first aid and/or CPR. While all reasonable care has been taken in compiling this information, Mary Jo Sminkey and Irish Emergency Ambulance Services Resource (IEASR) make no warranty as to the information's completeness, reliability or accuracy. Access to and use of the information contained herein is entirely at the risk of the user, Mary Jo Sminkey and IEASR shall not be liable, directly or indirectly to the user or any third party for any damage resulting from the use of the information contained or implied in the Pilot First Aid files.