One of the parts of your ACLS training is recognizing the warning signs of respiratory arrest. When an individual is entering into respiratory arrest, you will need to address the issue as soon as possible. The problem is that it is not always immediately apparent if an individual is in a state of respiratory arrest, so you will need to be aware of the symptoms and notice them before it is too late.
Respiratory Distress
Before respiratory arrest, a patient will typically undergo respiratory distress. They may feel agitated, disorientated and they might have a difficult time breathing. Sweating is common. The individual might feel very weak or feeble. The most common reason for respiratory distress is the result of an object obstructing the airway.
This can be the upper or lower airway. If the respiratory distress is the result of an object becoming lodged in the individual's throat, he or she might draw attention to the neck and make a harsh sound. If the choking is not the result of a foreign body, you might notice that blood or vomit is causing the individual to choke.
Cyanosis and Unconsciousness
One of the most common warning signs of respiratory arrest is that the sufferer is beginning to turn blue. This is referred to as cyanosis and is the result of not having enough oxygen in the blood. Cardiac arrest typically occurs within minutes of hypoxemia. At this point, the patient will usually be unconscious or on the verge of becoming unconscious.
An individual who has entered a state of respiratory arrest will not be breathing once they have entered respiratory arrest. However, even if the individual is breathing, he or she might be gasping for breath and not inhaling enough oxygen to avoid respiratory arrest. In a hospital setting, the patient could have his or her oxygen levels monitored to determine if the patient is receiving enough oxygen.
Infants and Respiratory Distress
Respiratory distress is especially a concern with infants because they may not show any clear warning signs. For this reason, it's important to closely monitor an infant that might be in danger of suffering from respiratory arrest.
If you believe that someone is in the early stages of respiratory distress, you will want to contact ambulance services as soon as possible. It is also important to have ACLS training so that you are prepared to handle situations like this.
