Unconscious and not breathing - adults

Recognition and treatment

Look for

• To confirm if someone is unconscious and not breathing complete the steps of the primary survey - Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing (DRAB)
• If an AED is available refer to the steps for using an AED.

• Skip primary survey steps

Check for danger

• Are you or they in any danger?
• If you have not already done so make the area safe and then assess them
• If a person is drowning, only enter the water to rescue them if it is safe to do so, you have been trained to do so, and they are unconscious. If you are not alone dial 999/112 for emegency help immediately for drowning victims.

Check for a response

• Shout a command at them:
  • 'Can you hear me?'
  • 'Open your eyes'
• Gently shake their shoulders
• If they respond, refer to the treatment for someone unconscious but breathing - children and adults
• Shout for help.

Open the airway

• Help them to breath by opening their airway
• To do this, place one hand on the forehead and using two fingers lift the chin.

Check breathing

• Position your cheek close to their mouth
• Look, listen and feel for no more than 10 seconds:
  • look to see if the chest is rising and falling
  • listen for breathing
  • feel the breath against your cheek
• If they are not breathing commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Call for help

• If you have someone with you, send them to dial 999 (or 112) for an ambulance immediately
• If you are on your own, go and call for help and then return, reassess and continue with CPR
• If unconsciousness is due to drowning, you should give five initial rescue breaths and perform CPR for one minute before making the call.

Give 30 compressions

• Place heel of your hand in the centre of the chest
• Place other hand on top and interlock fingers
• Keeping your arms straight and your fingers off the chest, press down by five to six centimetres and release the pressure, keeping your hands in place
• Repeat the compressions 30 times, at a rate of 100-120 per minute (about the speed of the song 'Nelly the Elephant').

Give 2 rescue breaths

• Ensure the airway is open
• Pinch nose firmly closed
• Take a deep breath and seal your lips around their mouth
• Blow into the mouth until the chest rises
• Remove your mouth and allow the chest to fall
• Repeat once more.

Continue CPR

• Continue resuscitation, 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths
• Do not stop unless:
  • emergency help arrives and takes over
  • they show signs of recovery such as coughing, opening eyes, speaking or moving purposefully and breathing normally
  • you become so exhausted that you cannot carry on.