FIRST AID FOR A PERSON WHO IS CHOKING

1️⃣ TALK to victim

2️⃣ DON'T START first-aid if victim is crying or coughing forcefully

3️⃣ START FIRST AID IMMEDIATELY if victim holds at their chest or neck & can't breathe, speak, or cough. See below;

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1️⃣
First thing to do if a person is choking is to ask them:
"Are you choking?" Or
"Can you speak?"

In some cases, the person responds & in the process of speaking, they force air out of their lungs to dislodge the object blocking their airway.

If the person can't respond, here's how to know if he or she is choking:

They;
- hold their chest or neck (most often)
- can't talk
- can't breathe
- have weak cough (danger) or forceful cough (good sign)
- lose consciousness
- skin, like, nails, eyes turn blue (cyanosis)

2️⃣
Next, DON'T perform first aid if the person is coughing forcefully & is able to speak.

Rather, encourage them to cough harder. A strong cough can dislodge the object on its own.

Any attempt at first aid while patient is coughing may further worsen their condition instead.

3️⃣
If a choking victim holds at their chest or neck & can't breathe, cough or respond, it means they can't dislodge the object blocking their airway on their own. They're in dying need of first aid.

This is when you must START FIRST-AID IMMEDIATELY, depending on their age;

FOR A CHILD 1 YEAR & BELOW

Step 1
5 BACK BLOWS
Place face-down across your forearm. With heel of your hand, hit firmly on their back. If no object out, move to step 2

Step 2
5 CHEST THRUSTS
With 2 fingers on child's breastbone, give 5 quick down thrusts

Heimlich Maneuver to rescue a child 1 year & below who is choking

FOR A CHILD ABOVE 1 YEAR & ADULTS

Step 1
5 BACK BLOWS
Hit them firmly on their back between shoulder blades. If object not dislodged, move to step 2

Step 2
5 ABDOMINAL THRUSTS
Hold victim around waist & pull inwards & upwards above their belly

Heimlich Manoeuvre to rescue a child above 1year or an adult who is choking

For a pregnant women or a very fat person, you as the rescuer should place your hands in the centre of their chest to compress (not in the abdomen!)

If you're in a situation where you're 

alone with no other person, you have to be your own rescuer.

To perform abdominal thrusts on yourself, place a fist slightly above your navel. Grasp your fist with the other hand & bend over a hard surface. Shove your fist inward & upward

NOTE:
You will have to continue the cycle of back blows & chest/abdominal thrusts until;

- the blockage dislodges, or
- medical help arrives, or
- the victim becomes unresponsive

If the above first aid measures fail, MOVE VICTIM TO HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY!!!

If object dislodges from the throat into the mouth AND YOU CAN SEE IT, remove it immediately with your finger.

If adults, encourage them to bring it out. Then, reassure the person.

Back blows will create a strong vibration & pressure in the airway, which is usually enough to dislodge the blockage.

Chest/Abdominal thrusts, on the other hand, will squeeze air out of the lungs forcefully which may help dislodge the blockage.

Airway blockade may be complete (life-threatening) or partial. Even partial can quickly become deadly if victim loses ability to breathe in & out adequately.

Without oxygen, permanent brain damage occurs within 4 minutes. That's why rapid first aid for choking can save a life.

If you're not yet fully aware of the dangers of choking, especially in children, kindly see my previous thread here;

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Everyone should be conversant with these series of manoeuvres (known as Heimlich Manoeuvres).

You may never know when you'll be in a situation where you're the thin line between a person living & dying of choking.

Kindly RT.