SAVING LIFE

By Artificial Respiration
Prone Pressure Method

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure | Figure 2 Figure 3

When the patient is removed from the water, gas, smoke, or electric contact, get to work at once
with your own hands. If possible, send for a physician.

1. Lay the patient on his belly, one arm extended directly overhead, the other arm bent at elbow
and with the face turned outward and resting on hand or forearm, so that the nose and mouth are free
for breathing. (See fig. 1.)

2. Kneel straddling the patient’s thighs with your knees placed at such a distance from the hip bones
as will allow you to assume the position shown in Figure 1.

Place the palms of the hands on the small of the back with fingers resting on the ribs, the little finger
just touching the lowest rib, with the thumb and fingers in a natural position, and the tips of the fingers
just out of sight. (See fig. 1.)

3. With arms held straight, swing forward slowly, so that the weight of your body is gradually brought
to bear upon the patient. ‘The shoulder should be directly over the heel of the hand at the end of the
forward swing. (See fig. 2.) Do not bend your elbows. This operation should take about two seconds.

4. Now immediately swing backward, so as to remove the pressure completely. (See fig. 3.)

2. After two seconds, swing forward again. Thus repeat deliberately twelve to fifteen times a minute
the double movement of compression and release, a complete respiration in four or five seconds.

6. Continue artificial respiration without interruption until natural breathing is restored, if necessary,
four hours or longer, or until a physician declares the patient is dead.

7. As soon as this artificial respiration has been started and while it is being continued, an assistant
should loosen any tight clothing about the patient’s neck, chest or waist. Keep the patient warm. Do
not give any liquids whatever by mouth until the patient is fully conscious.

8. To avoid strain on the heart when the patient revives, he should be kept lying down and not
allowed to stand or sit up. If the doctor has not arrived by the time the patient has revived, he should
be given some stimulant, such as one teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia in a small glass of water
or a hot drink of coffee or tea, etc. The patient should be kept warm.

9. Resuscitation should be carried on at the nearest possible point to where the patient received his
injuries. He should not be moved from this point until he is breathing normally of his own volition
and then moved only in a lying position. Should it be necessary, due to extreme weather conditions,
etc., to move the patient before he is breathing normally, resuscitation should be carried on during the
time that he is being moved.

10. A brief return of natural respiration is not a certain indication for stopping the resuscitation.
Not infrequently the patient, after a temporary recovery of respiration, stops breathing again. The patient
must be watched and if natural breathing stops, artificial respiration should be resumed at once.

11. In carrying out resuscitation it may be necessary to change the operator. This change must be
made without losing the rhythm of respiration. By this procedure no confusion results at the time of
change of operator, and a regular rhythm is kept up.

This method has been approved by the following organizations: American Telephone and Telegraph Co.; American Red Cross;
American Gas Association; Bethlehem Steel Co.; National Electric Light Association; National Safety Council; Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery, Navy Department; Office of the Surgeon General, War Department; U. S. Bureau of Mines; U. S. Bureau of Standards and
U. S. Public Health Service.

AMERICAN NATIONAL RED Cross

Poster 1002