1. First Aid for Choking Victims: The Heimlich Maneuver
Whenever the airways are deprived of oxygen, the body is in distress. If a foreign substance is in the throat or lungs the body’s natural defenses react with a cough. In most cases, this is how we dislodge a foreign object, but occasionally the object obstructs the airway, preventing the cough. This is when the Heimlich maneuver is used.
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2. First Aid for Choking Victims: The Heimlich Maneuver
Whenever the airways are deprived of oxygen, the body is in distress. If a foreign substance is in the throat or lungs the body’s natural defenses react with a cough. In most cases, this is how we dislodge a foreign object, but occasionally the object obstructs the airway, preventing the cough. This is when the Heimlich maneuver is used.
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3. SYMPTOMS OF CHOKING Click to Continue Inability to speak
Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
Inability to cough forcefully
Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky
Loss of consciousness
DO NOT DO THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER ON A PERSON WHO CAN SPEAK!
The symptoms of choking are not always clear. When the airway is obstructed, a person may not be able to speak. However other symptoms, such as a weak cough or audible breathing will alert you that something is not right. With those symptoms, you need to suspect a blocked airway. Ask the victim if she needs help. Without help, the victim will begin turning blue, and eventually lose consciousness. Although you do not want to delay action, you must be sure that a person is choking. It is very important that as long as the person is able to speak that you make NO ATTEMPT to perform the Heimlich maneuver on them. The body’s own cough system is the best method to relieve a obstructed airway.
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4. Assisting Someone Else
Stand behind person
Wrap your arms around the waist
Make a fist with one hand
Position the fist 4 inches above navel
Grasp fist with the other hand
Tip the person slightly forward
Press hard into abdomen with a quick upward lift as if trying to lift the person
Once you determine that the Heimlich is needed, the first thing to do is to move behind the victim and wrap you arms around the waist, making a fist with your hand. Place your fist in the diaphragm, about four inches above the naval, and grab the fist with your other hand. Using your own body to tip the victim forward slightly, pull up sharply with your fist as if you were lifting them quickly off the ground. Repeat this action until the object is coughed up.
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5. If You are Choking Place fist slightly above your navel
Grasp fist with the other hand
Bend over a hard surface Chair or counter top
Shove your fist inward and upward
There may be times that you are choking and you are unable to tell someone else, either because you can’t speak, or no one is there. In that case, you will need to perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself. You can use a dining chair or countertop to help apply the pressure. Place your fist in the diaphragm, and hold it with your other hand. Resting your head on the back of the chair or counter push the fist hard and fast. When doing the Heimlich maneuver on yourself it is extremely important to push in hard enough to dislodge the obstruction quickly so you don’t lose consciousness.
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6. Assisting a Pregnant or Obese Choking Victim
Use the same procedure as above
Move the fist slightly higher then a normal Heimlich maneuver, at the base of breast bone just above the point where the ribs join.
Proceed with Heimlich maneuver with quick up and inward movement.
When a person is obese or pregnant, you will need to make slight adjustments because it is harder to put pressure on the diaphragm, and you have to be careful not to injure the unborn infant. For these victims you will place the fist higher so that it is at the base of the breast bone. The movement will be the same: sharply pull up and in. Make sure that this in done high on the chest area so that damage is not done TO the developing infant
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7. Assisting an Unconscious Choking Victim
Lower the person on his or her back
Clear the air way
Place the heel of the hand on the diaphragm
Thrust sharply upward
Make visual check
If you see any blockage turn the head sideways.
Reach and remove ONLY if it is dislodged and easily accessible
Even if the airway remains blocked, begin CPR
If a person loses consciousness, you still need to dislodge the object in the airway. As the person collapses, it is important that he or shedoes not sustain any head or back injury. Lower her carefully to the ground and perform the abdominal thrust, by placing the heel of the hand in the diaphragm, and thrusting up and in sharply. Visually check for the object. If you do not see it, repeat the thrust five times. Treat the victim carefully, and under no circumstances should you sweep the mouth with your finger searching for the object. DO NOT REACH IN TO REMOVE THE OBJECT. In your excitement you may push the object further into the throat. When the object is visible or dislodged (and the victim is breathing) , turn the victim’s head to the side and gently sweep the mouth with your finger to remove the object. If you are unable to remove the obstruction, begin CPR despite the block airway. If you have cleared the obstruction, check to see if the person is breathing. If not, start CPR.
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8. Clearing Airway of a Infant
Assume a seated position
Place infant face down on forearm and rest infant on your thigh
Using the heal of your hand thump the infant 5 times on the back
When an infant chokes, he may be unable to indicate his distress, and you will have to notice the symptoms. Treat the infant with care. Be seated, and place the infant face over your forearm using your lap to support him. As you place the infant on your lap make sure that you are supporting the head so that the neck is supported and not damaged, With infant hanging over your forearm, thump him 5 times on the back with the heal of your hand.
when you make the change from the back blows to the chest compressions, sandwich the child between the top and bottom hands
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9. Clearing the airway of an Infant
If the infant is still choking turn the child face up with head lower than trunk
Using two fingers placed on the center of the infants breast, give 5 quick chest compressions
If the baby continues to choke, you will need to turn him over on your lap. Be sure to support the head as you turn him, with the child on his back. The baby should be lying “downhill” with the head lower than the torso, as you place two fingers on the center of the breast. Give 5 quick pushes, If the airway is still obstructed, turn the infant and repeat the back blows. (Remember to support the head as you turn him.)
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10. Additional Infant choking techniques
Continue alternating chest compressions and back blows until the airway is clear.
Call 911
After the obstruction is removed, begin CPR if necessary.
If the child is over 1 year old, give abdominal thrusts only
Continue alternating between back blows and chest compressions until the airway is clear. Be patient but be persistent. As the victim becomes closer to unconsciousness the muscles that have contracted around the obstruction will relax and and will make it easier to remove. If the infant is not breathing once the obstruction is removed, begin CPR.
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