CHOKING Chapter 4

DO NOW QUESTIONS 2-3 sentences each question What should you do if you are alone and choking? What should you do if the person is pregnant, too large to reach around or in a wheelchair and cannot stand?

Choking occurs when the person’s airway is partially or completely blocked.

Causes of Choking- Adults Food Drinking alcohol (Alcohol dulls the nerves that aids swallowing ) Wearing dentures (Dentures make it difficult to sense whether food is fully chewed before it is swallowed) Laughing while eating Moving with food or objects in the mouth

Causes of Choking-Child/Infant Lack of Chewing (Chewing is not a skill that is learned until age 4) *Food (Candy, grapes, popcorn, gum, vitamins) Non-food items (BALLOONS, baby powder, Legos, safety pins, coins, marbles, pen and marker caps, small batteries)

Signs of Choking Coughing Inability to cough, speak, cry or breathe Clutching the throat High-pitched noises while inhaling or noisy breathing Panic Losing consciousness Bluish skin color

CHOKING FOR ADULT/CHILD Mrs. Doubtfire Choking American Red Cross Adult/Child Video

Infant Conscious Choking American Red Infant Video

Special Situations If the conscious person is too large for you to reach around, give chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Special Situations If you are alone and choking, bend over and press your abdomen against a firm object or give self abdominal thrust Examples: Back of chair, a railing or kitchen sink DO NOT bend over a sharp edge or corner

Special Situations Just give abdominal thrust if you are unable to pick them up or have help holding them up

Conscious to Unconscious If an adult, child or infant becomes unconscious, carefully lower him or her to the ground and begin CPR. Maintain and check for obstructions in the airway before giving rescue breaths.