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Choking
Choking occurs when the airway is
partially or totally blocked by a swallowed object, i.e., when something goes down the
windpipe rather than the food passage.
The aim of treatment is to clear the blocked passage.
THE CHOKING VICTIM WILL
CLASP HIS NECK IN AN INSTINCTIVE ACT,
WHICH IS NOW RECOGNISED AS THE UNIVERSAL CHOKING SIGN.
Act quickly; Speed is essential. Brain death can occur in 4-6 minutes.
Treatment:
Conscious Adult
- Ask, "Are you choking?" If the
victim can speak, cough or breathe,
DO NOT INTERFERE - he is not choking.
 If
the victim cannot speak, cough or breathe, give upward abdominal thrusts.
To do this, stand behind the victim and wrap your arms round the waist. Grasp one fist
with your other hand and place thumb side of your fist in the mid-line between waist and
rib cage. Press fist into abdomen with 4 quick upward and inward thrusts.- Do not use abdominal thrust when dealing
with a pregnant woman or over-weight victim. In these cases use chest thrusts - press on
breastbone as in CPR.
- Stand behind victim and place your arms
under his/her armpits to encircle body.
- Grasp one fist with the other hand, and
place thumb side on the middle of the breastbone. Press with quick backward thrusts.
- Repeat above sequence. Be persistent.
Send for medical aid, call an Ambulance and continue treatment until help arrives.
Self Help.
The above technique can be used successfully.
If a person is choking and alone. Lean over a chair or railing as you act to help release
obstruction.
 Unconscious Adult
Establish unconsciousness.
- "Call for Help". Get them to get
an Ambulance, Now!. Dial your local emergency telephone number.
- Open Airway and begin A
of resuscitation procedure.
- If unsuccessful, deliver five abdominal
thrusts.
- Use finger probe in mouth to remove the
dislodged foreign body.
- If unsuccessful repeat these sequences. Be
persistent.
- Continue the treatment until help arrives.
Child (as for adults)
If a child (1-8 years) is choking, proceed as for adult, depending on whether the victim
is conscious or unconscious.
Infant (up to 1 year)
If an infant is choking, turn infant face downwards supporting the body along your arm
with hand supporting head and neck.
- Ensure airway is open.
- Deliver five back blows between the
shoulders, then turn over and give five chest thrusts.
- Remove object if visible.
- Do not perform blind finger sweeps in
infants and children. When the obstruction is removed and the infant is still not
breathing and has no pulse, start CPR.
- Call help fast. See section on Resuscitation for Children.
To prevent further complications, all
cases of choking should receive medical inspection even if the first aid measure relieved
the obstruction. |
