Unresponsive and not breathing

Learn how to help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing.

With regard to the current coronavirus crisis, guidance can be found here. Please always consider your own personal safety first when delivering first aid.

Learning objectives

Learn first aid skills
Feel confident to help someone who needs first aid
Feel able to help someone in need of first aid

Unresponsive And Not Breathing Scene Setter Edited

How confident do you feel about helping someone who is unresponsive and not breathing?

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Kelly is visiting her nan after college, when she suddenly collapses in the garden. Kelly doesn’t know what to do and calls for help.

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Kelly’s story

Replay

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Now let’s take a closer look at this skill.

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While we waited for help to arrive, what was the key action Tom took that helped save her?

Back blows Chest compressions Rescue breaths

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Try Again

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Watch the animation to see how the key action works

Replay

16052000 Unresponsive And Not Breathing Eye Action Edited

How confident do you feel about helping someone who is unresponsive and not breathing?

Not at all

Totally

Unresponsive And Not Breathing Eye Action Edited (1)

Take action: If someone is unresponsive and not breathing, give chest compressions.

Start Over

With regard to the current coronavirus crisis, guidance can be found here. Please always consider your own personal safety first when delivering first aid.

Click here for the film transcript

Unresponsive and not breathing film transcript

How to help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing

Step 1.

Tilt their head back and look at their chest or stomach to see if it is moving. Look, listen and feel for breaths. If they are not breathing, their chest or stomach will not be moving.

Step 2.

Call 999 immediately or ask someone else to do it.

Step 3.

Give chest compressions by pushing firmly in the middle of their chest and then releasing.

Step 4.

Push firmly at a regular rate until help arrives.

Can you help someone who is unresponsive and not breathing?

Take the quiz and see how you do.

Quizzes - Secondary

Learn

These activities help young people learn what to do when someone is unresponsive and not breathing.

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Learn activity

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Learner skill guide

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Practise

These activities help young people practise how to help someone who is Unresponsive and not breathing.

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First aid skill - practise activity ideas

Download First aid skill - practise activity ideas (DOCX)

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Practise role play

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Practise all first aid skills

These activities help young people to practise more than one first aid skill.

Practise - secondary

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