Choking - Identification

What Happens:
  • A Person Who is Coughing, and what to do if he or she stops coughing.
  • The Person Turns Pale or Blue.


    • A choking victim may Attempt to Move to a Less Crowded Area:
  • If this Occurs, and Choking is Suspected, It Is Advised to Follow the Person and ask if they need help.
  • Don't forget the Universal sign for choking!
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    Universal Choking Sign


    This image is known as "The Universal Sign for Choking"


    Adult Choking

    Partial Blockage - The obstruction is only partially obstructing the patient's airway.

    Symptoms:
    Awake and Able to breath and speak. The patient might state: "It went down the wrong pipe." They may have high pitched noise between coughs or constant coughing.

    Treatment:
    Encourage patient to cough. Stay with person until obstruction clears. Watch closely and remain vigilant and ready to act. If the obstruction continues, activate 9-1-1.

    Complete Blockage - No air exchange.

    Signs and Symptoms
    Clutching throat (universal choking sign!) The victim cannot cough or make any sound. The patient may have blue lips, nails or skin. The patient may also become unresponsive.

    Treatment:
    Quickly ask, "Are you choking"? If victim nods yes or is unable to speak, cough, or cry, you need to act quickly! Stand behind the adult or kneel behind the child. Give quick inward and upward abdominal thrusts in rapid sequence until object is expelled or victim becomes unresponsive.

    Video Resource

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    (Alternative Video Download Link)


    Infant Choking

    The procedure for helping an infant that is choking is somewhat different than that for the adult. When an infant is choking, the infant will be unable to cry and may turn blue, pale or red in the face. The color change will be more noticeable than in an adult.

    Take the following steps:
    1. Start with the infant face down making sure to support the head with the palm of your hand.
    2. Administer 5 firm back blows with the heel of your other hand.
    3. Next, turn the infant over (face up) to your other arm and administer 5 chest thrusts, using 2 fingers in the center of the chest.
    4. Alternate back blows and chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the baby becomes unconscious.
    5. If the baby becomes unconscious, begin CPR.

    Video Resource

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    (Alternative Video Download Link)


    Unresponsive Choking

    If the victim is unresponsive, take the following steps:
  • Activate 9-1-1.
  • Begin CPR Immediately.
  • If a child or infant requires CPR and you are alone, complete 2 minutes of CPR, THEN call 9-1-1
  • If foreign obstruction in visible in mouth, remove it.
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    Review

  • Repeat Abdominal Thrusts, Chest Thrusts or Back Blows Until The Object Is Expelled
  • Be Sure to Utilize Proper Positioning
  • You May Need to Alternate these Actions for Effectiveness
  • If the Person Goes Unconscious, Begin the Steps of CPR
  • You May Use the Finger Sweep Maneuver if the Object is Visible in the Mouth
  • If You Cannot Use Abdominal Thrusts, Perform Chest Thrusts, then just provide
  • Back Blows Continuously. (Such Circumstances Might Occur when the Person is Obese or Pregnant).


    • For Infants: Back Blows and Chest Thrusts may be used in the manner as provided in the instruction video.

    For Yourself: If you find that you are choking and no one is around to help, be sure to dial 9-1-1. Dispatchers are trained to send response units in the event of no response. In the meantime, you may attempt to create enough pressure to expel the object by forcing your stomach against a chair and pushing. The majority of force should center just above the belly button.