artificial respiration

the stimulation of natural respiratory functions in persons whose breathing has failed or in newborn infants by artificially forcing air into and out of the lungs. Cf. cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

[1850-55]

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Breathing induced by any of several techniques in a person who has stopped or is having difficulty breathing.

It consists chiefly of keeping the air passage open and inducing inhalation and exhalation. It does not include chest compressions to maintain circulation (see cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The primary method is mouth-to-mouth breathing, in which the rescuer breathes into the victim's mouth, with pauses to allow exhalation.

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      breathing induced by some manipulative technique when natural respiration has ceased or is faltering. Such techniques, if applied quickly and properly, can prevent some deaths from drowning, choking, strangulation, suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and electric shock. Resuscitation by inducing artificial respiration consists chiefly of two actions: (1) establishing and maintaining an open air passage from the upper respiratory tract (mouth, throat, and pharynx) to the lungs and (2) exchanging air and carbon dioxide in the terminal air sacs of the lungs while the heart is still functioning. To be successful such efforts must be started as soon as possible and continued until the victim is again breathing.

      The most widely used method of inducing artificial respiration is mouth-to-mouth breathing, which has been found to be more effective than the manual methods used in the past. The person using mouth-to-mouth breathing places the victim on his back, clears his mouth of foreign material and mucus, lifts the lower jaw forward and upward to open the air passage, places his own mouth over the victim's mouth in such a way as to establish a leak-proof seal, and clamps the nostrils. He then alternately breathes into the victim's mouth and lifts his own mouth away, permitting the victim to exhale. If the victim is a child the rescuer may cover both the victim's mouth and nose. The rescuer breathes 12 times each minute (15 times for a child and 20 for an infant) into the victim's mouth.

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