First Aid: DRABC Initial Assessment

If you find someone who has breathing difficulties you should start by conducting a 'primary survey'. This is called Dr ABC and it stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation. Details of what to look for and how to react are below:

Danger
Are you or the casualty in any danger? If you have not already done so, make the situation safe and then assess the casualty.

Response

If the casualty appears unconscious check this by shouting 'Can you hear me?', 'Open your eyes' and gently shaking their shoulders. If there is no response, shout for help then follow the ABC Procedure below:

Airway

Open the airway by placing one hand on the casualty's forehead and gently tilting the head back. Check the mouth for obstructions and then lift the chin using 2 fingers only.

Breathing

Open the airway by placing one hand on the casualty's forehead and gently tilting the head back. Check the mouth for obstructions and then lift the chin using 2 fingers only. Spend 10 seconds checking to see if the casualty is breathing: Look to see if the chest is rising and falling. Listen for breathing. Feel for breath against your cheek.

If the casualty is breathing, place them in the recovery position and Check for other life-threatening conditions.

If the casualty is not breathing, and the condition is due to injury, drowning, or choking or they are less than 8 years old, continue with sequence.

For any other casualty who is not breathing, call an ambulance, then return to casualty and begin sequence again.

Give 2 Rescue Breaths.

Circulation Spend 10 seconds checking for signs of circulation: look, listen and feel for breathing, coughing, movement or any other signs of life.

Decision MakingConscious and Breathing

• Check circulation (including a check for severe bleeding)
• Treat any injuries
• Get help if necessary

Unconscious but Breathing

• Place the casualty in the Recovery Position.
• Check circulation (including a check for severe bleeding)
• Treat any life-threatening conditions
• Call for an ambulance

Unconscious, not breathing but has circulation

Baby or Child (less than 8 years old):

• Give 20 rescue breaths.
• If the baby or child is small enough, carry them to the telephone and call for an ambulance.
• If you have to leave the child to call for an ambulance follow the resuscitation sequence again on your return.
• If the baby or child is still unconscious, not breathing but has circulation then continue to give rescue breaths until help arrives.
• Check for circulation every 20 breaths.

Adult (8 years or older):

If the condition is due to injury, drowning or choking:

• Give 10 rescue breaths.
• Call for an ambulance
• On return to casualty follow the resuscitation sequence again, acting on your findings.

If the condition is not due to injury, drowning or choking:

• Call for an ambulance
• On return to casualty follow the resuscitation sequence again, acting on your findings.
• Check for circulation every 10 breaths.

Unconscious, not breathing and has no circulation

Baby or Child (less than 8 years old)

• Give Chest Compressions together with rescue breaths (CPR) for 1 minute
• If the baby or child is small enough, carry them to the telephone and call for an ambulance.
• If you have left the baby or child to call an ambulance, follow the resuscitation sequence again on your return.
• If the baby or child is still unconscious, not breathing and has no circulation, continue to give Chest Compressions together with Rescue Breaths (CPR) until help arrives.

Adult (8 years or older)

If the condition is due to injury, drowning or choking:

• Give chest compressions together with Rescue Breaths (CPR) for 1 minute.
• Call an ambulance, then return to casualty and follow resuscitation sequence again, acting on your findings.

If circulation is absent, and the condition is not due to injury, drowning or choking:

• Call an ambulance, then return to casualty and follow resuscitation sequence again, acting on your findings.
• Continue to give chest compressions together with Rescue Breaths (CPR) until help arrives.

Our thanks to St Johns Ambulance Service for providing this information.