Choking |
Cause:
Choking is caused when there is an object blocking your airway. if the object is small then coughing can often clear the airway, but if the object is the right size and shape it can get stuck. This prevents the person from breathing, causing a life threatening situation.
Steps to take:
1. assess the situation, make sure the person is choking and determine whether it is a partial or total airway obstruction
2. if it is a partial blockage encourage the person to cough
3. if it is a total blockage use back blows and abdominal thrusts to dislodge the object
4. when doing back blows stand behind the person, slightly off to one side
5. Support their chest with 1 hand. Lean them forward so the object blocking their airway will come out of their mouth, rather than moving further down
6. Give up to 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand, check if the airway is still blocked
7. If not, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts
8. stand behind the person and place your hands around their waist, have them bend over
9. Clench 1 fist and place it right above their belly button
10. Put the other hand on top of your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards, repeat 5 times
11. if they are still choking call 911 immediately
12. continue the cycle of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until help arrives
2. if it is a partial blockage encourage the person to cough
3. if it is a total blockage use back blows and abdominal thrusts to dislodge the object
4. when doing back blows stand behind the person, slightly off to one side
5. Support their chest with 1 hand. Lean them forward so the object blocking their airway will come out of their mouth, rather than moving further down
6. Give up to 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand, check if the airway is still blocked
7. If not, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts
8. stand behind the person and place your hands around their waist, have them bend over
9. Clench 1 fist and place it right above their belly button
10. Put the other hand on top of your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards, repeat 5 times
11. if they are still choking call 911 immediately
12. continue the cycle of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until help arrives
Medical conditions that can cause or increase risk of choking:
-Asthma: causes inflammation and can narrow airways
-Bronchiolitis: causes inflamed bronchioles
-Cleft palate: causes abnormal passageway in the roof of the mouth that connects the mouth and nose
-Epiglottitis: inflamed epiglottis
-Febrile seizure: result of a fever
-Severe croup: causes cough and difficulty breathing
-Bronchiolitis: causes inflamed bronchioles
-Cleft palate: causes abnormal passageway in the roof of the mouth that connects the mouth and nose
-Epiglottitis: inflamed epiglottis
-Febrile seizure: result of a fever
-Severe croup: causes cough and difficulty breathing