CHOKING : How do I deal with choking?

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Choking

Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air. In adults, a piece of food often is the culprit. Young children often swallow small objects. Because choking cuts off oxygen to the brain, administer first aid as quickly as possible.

The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn't give the signal, look for these indications:

·         Inability to talk

·         Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing

·         Inability to cough forcefully

·         Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky

·         Loss of consciousness

While Waiting for Emergency 911

If the Person Is Conscious but Not Able to Breathe or Talk:

1. Give Back Blows

- Give up to 5 blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

2. If Person Is Still Choking, Do Thrusts

-          If the person is not pregnant or too obese, do abdominal thrusts:

-          Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around the waist.

-          Place your clenched fist just above the person’s navel. Grab your fist with your other hand.

-          Quickly pull inward and upward.

-          Continue cycles of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is coughed up or the person starts to breathe or cough.

-          Take the object out of his mouth only if you can see it. Never do a finger sweep unless you can see the object in the person's mouth.

-          If the person is obese or pregnant, do high abdominal thrusts:

-          Stand behind the person, wrap your arms them, and position your hands at the base of the breast bone.

-          Quickly pull inward and upward.

- Repeat until the object is dislodged.

3. Give CPR, if Necessary

-          If the obstruction comes out, but the person is not breathing or if the person becomes unconscious

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on yourself:

First, if you're alone and choking and you have a landline phone, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Then, although you'll be unable to effectively deliver back blows to yourself, you can still perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item.

-          Place a fist slightly above your navel.

-          Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface — a countertop or chair will do.

-          Shove your fist inward and upward.

-          Clearing the airway of a pregnant woman or obese person:

-          Position your hands a little bit higher than with a normal Heimlich maneuver, at the base of the breastbone, just above the joining of the lowest ribs.

-          Proceed as with the Heimlich maneuver, pressing hard into the chest, with a quick thrust.

-          Repeat until the food or other blockage is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.

Clearing the airway of an unconscious person:

Lower the person on his or her back onto the floor.

Clear the airway. If there's a visible blockage at the back of the throat or high in the throat, reach a finger into the mouth and sweep out the cause of the blockage. Be careful not to push the food or object deeper into the airway, which can happen easily in young children.