Airway emergencies are a very stressful and scary thing, and most times we believe we are handling it correctly, but could be making it worse! When something blocks your airway(the passage connecting the nose and mouth to the lungs), it will cause you to choke and you are no longer able to get oxygen. Not getting oxygen is very life-threatening(obviously) and needs to be dealt with, with first aid.
MILD CHOKING If you come across somebody who is choking but is still getting air, encourage them to continue coughing as it is a natural way of clearing the airway. Remember to stay close by to this person, as the situation may worsen.
SEVERE CHOKING Seve choking usually occurs when the airway is COMPLETELY blocked.
COMMON CAUSES OF CHOKING
Swallowing large pieces of food
Eating/chewing while talking, walking, running, etc.
Drinking a lot of alcohol before/during meals.
PREVENTION For adults:
Chew food properly before swallowing
Eat food slowly/calmly
Try to avoid physical activity while eating
Avoid alcoholic drinks before/during meals
For children:
Do not allow kids to walk, run, play, etc. with food in their hands/mouths.
Feed infants/kids soft foods or cut their food into small pieces
Ensure there are no small objects around while kids are playing
What to Look For: The inability to speak, cough, or breathe. Change in face colour (Bluish skin, pale skin) Panic in the eyes (widened eyes) Hands clutching the throat High-pitched noises
The Check, Call, Care for Adult or Child: CHECK:
Check the scene, make sure it is safe
If safe, check the person’s ABC’S
CALL:
Shout for assistance
CARE:
Tell the person to keep coughing!
If the person is unable to cough, breathe or is making high-pitched sounds, it is severe.
You will need to, stand(or kneel for a small child) behind the person and wrap an arm diagonally across their chest.
Bend them forward at their waist until their upper airway is parallel to the ground
Using the heel of your hand, deliver FIVE back blows in between the shoulder blades.
If the object has yet to be dislodged, create a fist with your hand and place it above the belly button
Place your other hand over your fist and perform FIVE abdominal thrusts
Continue the cycle of back blows and abdominal thrusts until the object comes out, or the person begins to breathe/cough, or becomes unconscious
If the object comes out, do a secondary survey and treat non-life threatening conditions.
*IF THE PERSON GOES UNCONSCIOUS HELP THEM TO THE GROUND, AND PERFORM CPR*
The Check, Call, Care For a Baby: CHECK:
Check the seen to make sure it is safe
If safe, check the baby’s ABC’S
CALL:
Shout for help
CARE:
If the baby is only gagging, it is mild, do not interfere.
If the baby is making high sounds, wheezing, can no longer make noise, or is too weak to cough, have somebody call 9-1-1 and bring an AED
Support the baby by sandwiching the baby between your forearms
Turn them face down with their head lower than the body
With the heel of your hand, give FIVE back blows between the shoulder blades
If object is yet to be dislodged, turn the baby face up and perform FIVE chest thrusts in the middle of the chest, below the nipple line
Repeat the back blows and chest thrusts until the object is coughed up, the baby starts to cry, breathe, or cough, or the baby goes unconcious.
If object is out and the baby is crying, breathing or coughing, perform a secondary survey
*IF BABY FALLS UNCONSCIOUS HELP THEM TO THE FLOOR AND PERFORM CPR*