CHOKING

CHOKING A FOREIGN OBJECT THAT IS STUCK AT THE BACK OF THE THROAT MAY EITHER BLOCK THE THROAT OR INDUCE A MUSCULAR SPASM. THIS IS CHOKING. ADULTS MAY CHOKE ON FOOD THAT HAS BEEN INADEQUATELY CHEWED AND HURRIEDLY SWALLOWED.

YOUNG CHILDREN AND BABIES ARE CURIOUS AND LIKE PUTTING OBJECTS IN THEIR MOUTHS.

ACTIONS FOR A CONSCIOUS ADULT ASK THE CASUALTY TO COUGH, BUT DO NOT KEEP ASKING HER/HIM TO DO SO IF SHE/HE CANNOT COUGH UP THE FOREIGN OBJECT.

2. BEND THE CASUALTY WELL FORWARD AT THE WAIST AND GIVE UP TO 5 SHARP SLAPS BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES WITH THE FLAT OF YOUR HAND.

3. IF BACK SLAPS FAIL, TRY UP TO 5 ABDOMINAL THRUSTS (HAEMILICK MANOUVRE) PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND THE CASUALTY’S TRUNK. LINK YOUR HANDS BELOW THE RIBCAGE AND PULL SHARPLY INWARDS. THE OBSTRUCTING OBJECT MAY BE EXPELLED BY THE FORCE AGAINST THE CASUALTY’S DIAPHRAGM.

PREGNANT WOMAN

4. CONTINUE ALTERNATING BACKSLAPS AND ABDOMINAL THRUSTS UNTIL THE OBSTRUCTION CLEARS.

FOR AN UNCONSCIOUS ADULT. ASSESS THE CASUALTY FOLLOWING THE ABC OF RESUSCITATION. LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS MAY RELIEVE ANY MUSCLE SPASM IN THE THROAT OF A CHOKING CASUALTY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO VENTILATE THE CASUALTY PROCEED TO STEP 2.

2. TURN THE CASUALTY TO HIS SIDE AND GIVE UP TO 5 SHARP BLOWS WITH THE FLAT OF YOUR HAND BETWEEN HIS SHOULDER BLADES. CHECK HIS MOUTH AND USE A FINGER TO HOOK OUT ANY OBVIOUS OBSTRUCTION.

3. IF BACK BLOWS FAIL, KNEEL ASTRIDE OR ALONGSIDE THE CASUALTY 3. IF BACK BLOWS FAIL, KNEEL ASTRIDE OR ALONGSIDE THE CASUALTY. PLACE THE HEEL OF ONE HAND BELOW THE RIBCAGE AND COVER IT WITH YOUR OTHER HAND. PRESS SHARPLY INWARDS AND UPWARDS UP TO 5 TIMES.

4. IF THE CASUALTY IS STILL NOT BREATHING CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE 4. IF THE CASUALTY IS STILL NOT BREATHING CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE. TRY MOUTH-TO-MOUTH VENTILATION. IF THE CHEST DOES NOT RISE REPEAT STEPS 2 AND 3 UNTIL MEDICAL HELP ARRIVES.

FOR A CONSCIOUS BABY(0-12 MONTHS) LAY THE BABY FACE DOWN ON YOUR FOREARM, SUPPORTING HIS BACK AND CHIN. GIVE 5 SHARP SLAPS ON HIS BACK. CHECK THE BABY’S MOUTH; REMOVE ANY OBVIOUS OBSTRUCTION WITH ONE FINGER.

3. IF THIS FAILS, TURN THE BABY FACE UP ON YOUR ARM OR LAP 3. IF THIS FAILS, TURN THE BABY FACE UP ON YOUR ARM OR LAP. GIVE UP TO 5 SHARP THRUSTS INTO HIS CHEST.

CHECK THE BABY’S MOUTH AGAIN AND REMOVE ANY OBVIOUS OBSTRUCTION. IF THE OBSTRUCTION STILL HAS NOT CLEARED, REPEAT STEPS 1-4 THREE TIMES, THEN TAKE THE BABY TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE.

DO NOT FEEL BLINDLY DOWN THE THROAT DO NOT USE ABDOMINAL THRUSTS ON A BABY.

FOR A CONSCIOUS BABY (1-7 YEARS) BEND THE CHILD FORWARDS WITH HIS HEAD LOWER THAN HIS CHEST. GIVE UP TO 5 BACK SLAPS FIRMLY BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS.

2. CHECK THE CHILD’S MOUTH; REMOVE ANY OBVIOUS OBSTRUCTION WITH ONE FINGER.

3. IF THIS FAILS, STAND OR KNEEL BEHIND THE CHILD 3. IF THIS FAILS, STAND OR KNEEL BEHIND THE CHILD. MAKE A FIST AND PLACE IT AGAINST HIS LOWER BREASTBONE. GRASP FIST WITH YOUR OTHER HAND. PRESS INTO THE CHEST WITH A SHARP INWARD THRUST. GIVE UP TO 5 OF THESE CHEST THRUSTS AT THE RATE OF ABOUT ONCE EVERY THREE SECONDS.

4. CHECK HIS MOUTH. IF THE CHEST THRUSTS FAIL, REPEAT STEP 1, GIVING UPTO 5 BACK SLAPS. CHECK HIS MOUTH AND PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP, IF CHOKIN PERSISTS.

5. MAKE A FIST AND PLACE IT AGAINST THE CHILD’S CENTRAL ABDOMEN 5. MAKE A FIST AND PLACE IT AGAINST THE CHILD’S CENTRAL ABDOMEN. GRASP YOUR FIST WITH YOUR OTHER HAND. PRESS INTO HIS ABDOMEN WITH A SHARP UPWARD THRUST UP TO 5 TIMES. CHECK THE MOUTH AND PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP, IF NECESSARY.

6. DIAL FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID.

FOR AN UNCONSCIOUS CHILD (1-7 YEARS) ASSESS THE CHILD FOLLOWING THE ABC OF RESUSCITATION. LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS MAY RELIEVE ANY MUSCLE SPASM IN THE THROAT OF A CHOKING CHILD. IF YOU ARE STILL UNABLE TO VENTILATE PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP.

2. TURN THE CHILD ON HER SIDE AND GIVE UP TO 5 BACK SLAPS BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES WITH ONE HAND. ASSESS THE TREATMENT

3. LAY THE CHILD FACE UP ON THE FLOOR 3. LAY THE CHILD FACE UP ON THE FLOOR. GIVE UP TO 5 SHARP INWARD THRUSTS (CHEST THRUSTS) ON HER LOWER BREASTBONE. PRESS THE CHEST TO A THIRD OF ITS DEPTH AT THE RATE OF ONCE EVERY THREE SECONDS.

4. PLACE THE HEEL OF YOUR HAND MIDWAY BETWEEN THE CHILD’S NAVEL AND BREASTBONE. GIVE UP TO FIVE FIRM, UPWARD THRUSTS (ABDOMINAL THRUSTS) WITH ONE HAND. ASSESS THE TREATMENT.

6. IF THERE IS NO PROGRESS REPEAT THE CYCLE OF BACK SLAPS AND CHEST AND ABDOMINAL THRUSTS UNTIL MEDICAL HELP ARRIVES

ASSESSING TREATMENT CARRY OUT THE FOLLOWING CHECKS EVERY TIME YOU COMPLETE STEPS 2, 3 OF 4 BEFORE GOING ON TO THE NEXT ONE. CHECK THE MOUTH AND REMOVE ANY OBVIOUS OBSTRUCTION WITH ONE FINGER.

DO NOT USE YOUR FINGERS TO FEEL BLINDLY DOWN THE THROAT. IF THE CHILD BEGINS TO BREATHE, PLACE HER IN RECOVERY POSITION.

IF THE CHILD IS STILL NOT BREATHING, ATTEMPT TO GIVE UP TO 5 BREATHS OF MOUTH-TO-MOUTH VENTILATION. IF HER CHEST DOES NOT RISE WHEN YOU TRY TO VENTILATE, PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP.