How to Operate Resuscitator Onboard ?

Follow the procedure mentioned below for operation of resuscitator provided on ships:

• Where possible lay the patient on his back.
• Feel inside the mouth and remove any foreign matter or false teeth.
• Tilt the patient’s head well back to ensure that the airway is open.
• The maintenance of an airway is obtained by rasing the patient’s shoulders by means of a rolled blanket, coat or similar and allowing the head to fall back.
• Insert appropriate airway, apply the facemask to the patient’s face and ensure that a very tight seal around the patient’s nose and mouth is obtained. A very good method is to hold the face mask with one hand, two fingers hooked under the jaw, the remainder to hold down the mask. The other hand is free to assist in positioning the mask and patient’s head to ensure that a face tight seal is obtained.
• Watch the patient’s chest which should rise and fall in time with the inhale and exhale of the resuscitator. Also note any misting of the plastic facemask which signifies that the patient is exhaling, on inhalation any misting is removed by the flow or fresh oxygen and air into the mask
• Frequently examine the patient’s nose and mouth through the clear P.V.C of the mask for signs of mucous or vomit. Should vomiting occur, turn the patient to one side and remove the vomit. Continue with resuscitation as necessary.
• If the patient’s chest does not rise and fall rhythmically with the operation of the resuscitator, this may be due to the following reasons.
• Leakage of air around the mask due to the fact that the mask is not sealing tightly around the patient’s nose and mouth, this is indicated by:
  • Non misting of the face mask.
  • Continual single sound of inspiratory air flowing through fluidic valve.
• Solution:
  • Re-adjust mask or reposition the hands to obtain airtight face seal.
• A blockage in the patient’s airway preventing air reaching the lungs is indicated by:
  1. misting of the facemask.
  2. sound of a very rapid change of air flow in the fluidic valve.

• Solution:
• Ensure that the airway is open and check that any inserted airway is positioned correctly and not blocked by vomit. Clear blockage as described or by means of a suction pump.