Metropolitan Ambulance Service
Rural Ambulance Victoria
Work
Instruction
Version 1
1/3/01
Applying Gentle Lateral Chest Pressure
to the Patient with Severe Asthma
EQUIPMENT:
Patient
STAGES
KEY POINTS
Number
WI: 2.4.8
Sheet 1 of 1
COMPETENCY
ASSESSMENT
RATIONALE
Utilise standard infection control precautions.(Refer WI
1.1)
1. Assess patient
1. Perform vital signs survey
(refer WI 2.1.9,2.1.10,2.1.11).
2. Position self and
patient
1. Place hands on both sides of the patient’s lower
lateral chest wall. If patient supine, face patient and
kneel astride patient’s hips.
3. Perform GENTLE
lateral chest
pressure
1. Compress the chest medially, co-ordinating with
patient’s expiratory effort. DO NOT compress during
patient’s inspiration.
2. If IPPV being performed, compression commences on
cessation of each positive pressure ventilation.
3. Compression must be SLOW, GENTLE, rhythmic and
sustained to assist in forcing air out.
4. Re-assess patient
1. Continually monitor patient’s respiratory status (refer
WI 2.1.9) and perfusion status (refer WI 2.1.11).
NOTE:
Risk of tension
pneumothorax
Paediatric patients chest wall will be more compliant, therefore care must be taken to ensure gentle
pressure is applied
Metropolitan Ambulance Service
Rural Ambulance Victoria
Work
Instruction
Version 1
1/3/01
Applying Gentle Pressure Lateral Chest
Pressure to the Patient with Severe Asthma
EQUIPMENT:
Patient
ACTIVITY
Number
WI: 2.4.8
Sheet 1 of 1
COMPETENCY
ASSESSMENT
CRITICAL PERFORMANCE
PASS
FAIL
Utilises standard infection control precautions.(Refer WI 1.1)
...........
...........
1. Assess patient
1. Performs vital signs survey (refer WI 2.1.9,2.1.10,2.1.11).
...........
...........
2. Position self and patient
1. Places hands on both sides of the patient’s lower lateral
chest wall. If patient supine, faces patient and kneels
astride patient’s hips.
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
3. Perform GENTLE
lateral chest pressure
4. Re-assess patient
1. Compresses the chest medially, co-ordinating with
patient’s expiratory effort. Does not compress during
patient’s inspiration.
2. If IPPV being performed, compression commences on
cessation of each positive pressure ventilation.
3. Compression is SLOW, GENTLE, rhythmic and
sustained to assist in forcing air out.
1. Continually monitor patient’s respiratory status (refer WI
2.1.9) and perfusion status (refer WI 2.1.11).
CANDIDATES NAME: ____________________________________________
DATE:________________
Comments: ...................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
Instructor:
(please
print)
...........................................
Satisfactory
practical
performance
Unsatisfactory
practical
performance