First aid procedures for hypoxia

Answer 1

Instantly re-establish breathing in such as manner as to offset any oxygen deficit. As your question is moot regarding the cause of hypoxia, I'll touch on the most common causes: # Lack of Breathing. Commence rescue breathing ( resuscitation) instantly and continue until the victim resumes breathing on their own, you become too exhausted to continue, or you are relieved by rescue personnel. # Low Arterial PO2. Commence oxygen flow on breathing apparatus, e.g. nasal canula, mask, ambu bag if neccesary, intubation, etc. # Occluded airway. Remove the occlusion, either with your hand, or consider the Heimlich manuver. If you can't remove the occlusion, and you know how to do this without causing more harm, consider tracheostomy. # Hypoxia as a result of hypovolemia. Stop the bleeding using (in order of preference) direct pressure, elevating the limb (if it's a limb that's bleeding), pressure points and, as a last resort, tourniquet. Direct pressure can control bleeding in most cases. Note that applying a tourniquet is a dangerous procedure that should only be considered when saving a life. Once bleeding is controlled, apply other listed methods as apropriate. If you don't know these rescue procedures, ideally send two people for help and stay with the patient. If you're alone, consider which will be most likely to save the patient: staying and trying or running for help. Note that starting the patient on Oxygen may work well in accompaniment with any of the aforesaid procedures. There are many other potential causes of hypoxia, but most of these are difficult to treat in a first-aid context.