Respiration 343 



the blood easily as it goes through the lungs. As the blood cir- 

 culates through the body it carries the oxygen to all the cells. 

 Each cell absorbs as much oxygen as it needs, and throws off its 

 carbon dioxide into the blood current through the thin membrane 

 of the cell walls. This waste is carried by the blood to the lungs 

 where it is exhaled. 



Suffocation and Gas Poisoning. Even a short interruption 

 of breathing shows how important breathing is. Discomfort is 

 at once apparent, and if breathing is not resumed unconsciousness 

 quickly follows. Inability to breathe is called suffocation. A per- 

 son so affected is unable to get air into his lungs to supply oxygen 

 and remove carbon dioxide. If no relief is given, death soon 

 results. The most common causes of suffocation are electric 

 shock, which paralyzes the nerves controlling the muscles used in 

 breathing; drowning; and breathing a gas that will not support 

 oxidation. Gas poisoning is caused by taking into the lungs a 

 gas, such as carbon monoxide, that destroys or paralyzes some of 

 the body cells. 



Artificial Respiration (Schaefer Method). Artificial res- 

 piration should be used in cases of gas poisoning and in cases of 

 suffocation where breathing has stopped. Every second counts. 

 Lay the patient face down with his head turned to one side. One 

 of his arms should be extended over his head and the other one 

 so bent that his mouth and nose rest upon the back of his hand. 

 This prevents dust and dirt from being drawn in when breathing 

 starts. 



Now, kneel astride one of the patient's legs, facing his head. 

 Placing your hands on both sides of the patient's body just below 

 the shoulder blades, with the thumbs parallel and pointing to the 

 patient's head and the fingers pointing to the ground, scrape the 

 hands back along the body until they strike the hips. Keeping 

 your arms stiff, bear forward and down with your full weight for 

 three seconds. This empties the lungs. Now snap your hands 

 away and allow the lungs to fill for two seconds. Apply pres- 

 sure again in the same way for three seconds, and remove 

 for two. This should be continued with the same timing and 

 the same rhythm until the natural breathing of the victim is 



