Expired Air Resuscitation

          Expired air resuscitation (EAR) is a way of breathing air into someone to supply that person with the oxygen needed for survival.  EAR is given to victims who are not breathing but still have signs of circulation.
          EAR works because the air you breathe into the victim contains more than enough oxygen to keep that person alive. The air you take in with every breath contains about 21% oxygen , but your body uses only a small part of that. The air you breathe out of your lungs and into the lungs of the victim contains about 16% of oxygen , which is enough oxygen to keep someone alive.
          You will discover whether you need to give EAR during the first two steps of the ABC in the primary survey when you open the airway and check for breathing. If you can't see, hear, or feel any signs of breathing, you must begin EAR immediately.

EAR TECHNIQUE

Ti give EAR, first turn the victim onto the back and keep the airway open with head tilt and jaw support. Place one hand on the top of the head and tilt the head back. Support the jaw with your fingers in a "pistol grip" position. Head tilt  and jaw support not only open the airway by moving the tongue away from the back of the throat, but they also move the soft tissue flap, called epiglottis, from the opening of the trachea. If you know or see that the victim is wearing dentures, don't automatically remove them. Dentures can help the EAR process by supporting the victim's mouth and cheeks during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the dentures are loose, the head-tilt and jaw- support technique may help keep them in place. Remove the dentures only if they are broken or become so loose that they block the airway or make it difficult for you to give breaths. Begin the mouth-to-mouth method of EAR by giving full 5 breaths in 10 seconds. If you don't see the victim's chest rise and fall as you give each breath, you may not have the head tilted back far enough to open the airway adequately. Tilt again the victim's head and try again to get air into the lungs. If your breaths still don't go in, the victim's airway may be blocked and need to be cleared. Check for signs of circulation after giving the 5 full breaths. If the victim has signs of circulation but isn't breathing, continue EAR by giving 1 breath every 4 seconds (15 breaths per minute). Take a breath yourself and breathe into the victim.

Do not stop EAR unlesson of the following occurs:

• The victim begins to breathe unaided.
• The victim has no signs of circulation. If so, begin CPR.
• Another first aider takes over for you. 
• Emergency personnel arrive on the scene and take over.
• You are physically unable to continue.