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Asphyxia is a condition in which the lungs do not get sufficient
oxygen supply of air forbreathing. If this continues for some
minutes breathing and heart action stops and deathoccurs.
Causes
1. Conditions affecting the air passageA. Spasm
1. Food going down the wrong way into the air passage.2. Water
getting into the air passage, as in drowning.3. Irritant gases
(coal gas, motor-exhaust fumes, smoke, sewer and
granary has, gas in deep unused wells.) getting into the
airpassage.
4. Bronchial Asthma.
o Obstruction
1. Mass of food or foreign body such as artificial teeth etc in
the airpassage.
2. Tongue falling back in an unconscious patient.3. Swelling of
tissues of the throat and as a result of scalding
( boiling water) or injury, burns and corrosive.
o Compression
1. Tying a rope or scarf tightly around the neck
causingstrangulation.
2. Hanging or throttling (applying pressure with fingers on the
windpipe).
3. Smothering like overlaying an infant: and unconscious
personlying face downwards on a pillow, or plastic bags, or
sheets
covering face completely for some time.
Conditions affecting the Respiratory Mechanism.1. Epilepsy,
Tetanus, Rabies etc.2. Nerve diseases causing paralysis of chest
wall or diaphragm.
Conditions affecting Respiratory Centre1. Morphine, barbiturates
(Sleeping tablets):2. Electric Shock, Stroke
Compression of the Chest1. Fall of earth or sand in mines,
quarries, pits or compression by
grain in a silo, or big beams and/or pillars in
house-collapse.2. Crushing against a wall or other barrier or
pressure in a crowd.
Lack of Oxygen at high altitudes with low atmospheric
pressure,whereacclimatisation (gradual ascent) is necessary.
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Signs and symptoms
Phase I
Rate of breathing increases Breath gets shorter Veins of the
neck become swollen Face, Lips, nails, fingers and toes turn blue.
Pulse gets faster and feebler
Phase II
Consciousness is lost totally or partially. Froth may appear at
the mouth and nostrils. Fits may occur.
Note: Even after breathing has stopped the heart may continue to
beat for ten to twelveminutes. In such cases it is possible to
restore breathing by artificial respiration, andbring the casualty
back to life.
Management
The important things to do are:
Remove the cause if possible or remove the casualty from the
cause. Ensure an open airway to allow the air to reach the lungs.
Place the individual on
his back. Support the nape of the neck on your palm and press
the head
backwards. Then press the angle of the jaw forward from behind.
This will extendthe head on the neck and lift the tongue clear off
the airway. If the airway isopened by this method the individual
gasps and starts to breathe. Give three tofour inflations to the
lungs to facilitate breathing by mouth-to-mouth method. If theheart
is beating, carotid pulse can be felt at the base of neck. (Pulse
at wrist maynot be felt).Continue to ventilate the lungs until
breathing becomes normal.
Prevent damage to the brain and other vital organs (which will
occur due to thelack of oxygen) apply artificial respiration to
ensure prompt ventilation of thelungs, and if necessary, do
external cardiac compression.
Continue artificial respiration until natural breathing is
restored it may benecessary to continue for a long time unless a
doctor advises to stop in case ofdouble you should rather continue
longer than stop early. Take help from other
available in case of need. Keep the body warm using light
blankets. Provide shelter to the casualty (at least with an
umbrella)
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