Choking

By : Hammad
 Overview

• Choking is usually caused by food or an object stuck in

the windpipe. For tips to avoid choking, see preventing
choking.

• A person who is choking cannot talk, cough, or

breathe, and may turn grey or blue. The Heimlich
manoeuvre can help get the food or object out.

• WARNING: Do not try the Heimlich manoeuvre unless

you are sure the person is choking.
 Choking Rescue Procedure (Heimlich Manoeuvre)

• Adult or Child Older Than 1 Year

• If the person can cough or make sounds, let him or her cough to try to get the
object out. If you are worried about the person's breathing, call 911.

• If the person can't breathe, cough, or make sounds, then:

• Stand or kneel behind the person and wrap your arms around his or her waist. If
the person is standing, place one of your legs between his or her legs so you can
support the person if he or she faints.
• Make a fist with one hand. Place the thumb side of your fist against the person's
belly, just above the belly button but well below the breastbone. See picture A.
• Grasp your fist with the other hand. Give a quick upward thrust into the belly.
This may cause the object to pop out. You may need to use more force for a large
person and less for a child or small adult. See picture B.
• Repeat thrusts until the object pops out or the person faints.
 Person Faints (pingsan)

• Call 911 or other emergency services if the person faints.

Then:

• Start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if you know

how. See CPR in the topic Dealing With Emergencies.
• If you do rescue breaths, look for an object in the mouth
or throat each time the airway is opened during CPR. If you
see an object, remove it.
• Do not do any more Heimlich thrusts.
• Keep doing CPR until the person is breathing on his or her
own or until help arrives.
 Choking While Alone

• If you choke while you are alone, use your fists

to do thrusts on yourself. Or lean over the
back of a chair and press hard to pop out the
object.
 Baby (Younger Than 1 Year)

• If the baby can cough or make sounds, let him or her cough to try to get the object out. If you are worried about
the baby's breathing, call 911.

• If a baby can't breathe, cough, or make sounds, then:

• Put the baby face down on your forearm so the baby's head is lower than his or her chest.
• Support the baby's head in your palm, against your thigh. Don't cover the baby's mouth or twist his or her neck.
• Use the heel of one hand to give up to 5 back slaps between the baby's shoulder blades. See picture C.
• If the object does not pop out, support the baby's head and turn him or her face up on your thigh. Keep the
baby's head lower than his or her body.
• Place 2 or 3 fingers just below the nipple line on the baby's breastbone and give 5 quick chest thrusts (same
position as chest compressions in CPR for a baby). See picture D.
• Keep giving 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts until the object comes out or the baby faints.
• If the baby faints, call 911 (if you haven't called already). Then:
• Do not do any more back slaps or chest thrusts.
• Start CPR. If you do rescue breaths, look for an object in the mouth or throat each time the airway is opened
during CPR. If you see the object, take it out. But if you can't see the object, don't stick your finger down the
baby's throat to feel for it.
• Keep doing CPR until the baby is breathing on his or her own or until help arrives.
• Illustration copyright 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com
 Preventing Choking

• Don't drink too much alcohol before eating. It may dull your senses, and you
might not chew food properly or might try to swallow too large a portion of food.
• Take small bites. Cut meat into small pieces. Chew your food thoroughly.
• Do not give popcorn, nuts, or hard candy to children younger than 4, and
supervise older children when they eat these foods. Cut hot dogs and grapes
lengthwise.
• Do not give young children small objects that may cause choking, such as
marbles or jacks.
• Look for age guidelines when selecting toys for children.
• Do not let your child play with a toy if he or she is younger than the
recommended age for the toy.
• The safest toys for small children are at least 3 cm (1.25 in.) around or 6 cm
(2.25 in.) in length.
• Keep balloons and plastic bags away from any child who may put them in his or
her mouth.
Choking procedures (2010)
 Alternating techniques
 More than one technique may be needed in
removing a severe obstruction. Use back
blows, abdominal thrusts, chest thrusts

 Conscious choking (adult, child)

 Perform alternating back blows and
abdominal thrusts
 5 back blows
- Bend victim over, near parallel to the ground
- Support victim with one arm across their chest
- With other arm apply 5 back blows, between the
shoulder blades
 5 abdominal thrusts
(chest thrusts for pregnant or obese)
Slide 12