Beginner’s Guide To Helping A Choking Person | How To Help A Choking Person | How To Deal With Choking

Introduction

Choking occurs when an object obstructs your airway and prevents air from flowing in and out of the lungs. If air cannot get into the lungs, therefore into the blood, it cannot be delivered to the tissues of the body, the most important being the brain and the heart. If the heart does not receive an adequate supply of oxygen rich blood, it will then stop beating and can lead to cardiac arrest.

• The common object causing obstruction is food.

• And other small objects

Signs and symptoms of choking:

• Clutching the throat or chest

• Difficulty in breathing

• Coughing

• Grunting noises

• Red face initially, then turning pale or blue

• Reduced level of consciousness

If it continues, the victim will stop breathing.

First Aid (Adult):

If partial blockage:

• Encourage to cough

• Provide reassurance and monitor

• Loosen any tight clothing around the neck

• Call EMS (Emergency Medical Services), if it isn't quickly resolved

If complete blockage:

(victim is unable to cough)

• Deliver abdominal thrusts (The Heimlich Maneuver)

• Stand behind the victim and explain

• Put your arms around their body, make a fist with one hand and place it just above the belly button

• Grasp this fist with your other hand and firmly pull inward and upward. If unable to deliver the abdominal thrust, then deliver the chest thrusts or back blows

• Continue until emergency medical help arrives

• If the victim loses consciousness, assess whether they are breathing normally. If they are not breathing normally, commence CPR until the arrival of medical help

• They should be assessed by a medical professional, as abdominal thrusts carry a risk of internal organ damage.

   

Chest Thrust:

• Stand behind the victim and explain

• Reach around and place one fist on the center of the breast bone (sternum)

• Grasp this fist with your other hand and firmly pull inward

• After each chest thrust, check to see if the object has been dislodged

   

Back Blow:

To deliver back blows,

• Lean the victim forward and explain

• Firmly hit him between the shoulder blades, using the heel of your hand

• After each back blow check to see if the object has been dislodged

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