CHOKING
CAUTION
IS IT AN EMERGENCY?
RECOMMENDED MODULES FOR TREATMENT
CPR
INJURIES
BURNS
ESSENTIALS
WHAT TO DO FIRST
CHECK FOR THE FOLLOWING SIGNS
ADULTS AND CHILDREN
- Ask the casualty: “Are you choking?”
Mild obstruction:
- Difficulty in speaking, coughing and breathing
Severe obstruction:
- Inability to speak, cough, or breathe
- Eventual unconsciousness.
INFANTS
Mild obstruction:
- Able to cough but difficulty in breathing or making any noise
Severe obstruction:
- Inability to cough, make any noise, or breathe
- Eventual unconsciousness
how to treat it
CHOKING IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN
1. Encourage Casualty to Cough
If the casualty is breathing, encourage her to cough to try to remove the obstruction herself. If this fails, go to step 2.
2. Give Abdominal Thrusts
Stand behind the casualty. Put both arms around her, and put one fist between her navel and the bottom of her breastbone. Grasp your fist with your other hand, and pull sharply inward and upward until the object is dislodged.
3. Call For Emergency Help
Call 911 for emergency help if the casualty loses consciousness, then begin CPR starting with chest compressions.
CHOKING IN INFANTS
1. Give Up to 5 Back Blows
If the infant is unable to cough or breathe, lay him face down along your forearm (head low), and support his body and head. Give up to five back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
2. Check Infant’s Mouth
Turn the infant face up along your other forearm, supporting his back and head. Check the
mouth. Pick out any obvious obstructions. If choking persists, proceed to step 3.
3. Give Up To 5 Chest Compressions
Place two fingertips on the lower half of the infant’s breastbone, in the nipple line. Give up to five compressions. Recheck the mouth.
4. Call For Emergency Help
Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the object is expelled or the infant loses consciousness. Do CPR on the unconscious infant for two minutes, call for emergency help, then continue CPR until help arrives.
CAUTION
ADULTS
- Do not do a finger sweep when checking the mouth.
- Seek medical advice for any adult who has been given abdominal thrusts.
- If the casualty loses consciousness, assess for breathing.
- Be prepared to give CPR, beginning with compressions
CHILDREN
- Do not do a finger sweep when checking the mouth.
- Seek medical advice for any child who has been given abdominal thrusts.
- If the child loses consciousness, assess for breathing.
- Be prepared to begin CPR
INFANTS
- Do not do a finger sweep when checking the mouth.
- Do not use abdominal thrusts on an infant.
- If the infant loses consciousness, open the airway and assess for breathing.
- Be prepared to begin CPR.
- If a second rescuer is present, send him to call emergency services immediately, as soon as you discover the choking infant.