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Choking

Choking

Choking is a blockage in the windpipe that makes it impossible for an individual to breathe properly and allow air to pass into the lungs.

Often, people who are choking do it quietly until they begin to turn red, grasp their neck or mouth, loose their colour and have a blue tinge to their lips. Choking is normally a result of eating food to quickly or eating on the move.

If choking is not dealt with then it could lead to an individual becoming unconscious and possibly die.

Therefore, it is extremely important to carry out the following procedures when an adult is choking:

• When a person begins to choke try to look in the mouth and see if the obstruction can be easily removed.
• Encourage the individual to keep coughing if they are able to
• If the individual shows signs of becoming weak then you will need to give them 5 back slaps
• To do this bend the casualty over as far as you can at the same time providing support
• Using the palm of your hand hit the individual hard between the shoulder blades up to 5 times
• Check the mouth to see if the obstruction has fallen out
• If the obstruction does not come out or the individual continues to cough then stand or kneel behind them and put both arms around the upper abdomen
• Ensure that the individual is bending well forwards
• Clench your fist and place it between the belly button and the bottom of their breastbone
• Grasp your fist with your other hand
• Pull sharply inwards and upwards 5 times
• If the obstruction has still not removed itself then check the mouth again to see if you can remove it with your finger
• If you can not then continue with 5 back slaps and then 5 abdominal thrusts again
• Repeat this cycle for a maximum of 3 times and then call for emergency help
• If the individual becomes unconscious then proceed to on the ABC resuscitation procedures

When a child aged 1 -8 years old is choking carry out the following procedures:

• When a child begins to choke try to look in the mouth and see if the obstruction can be easily removed.
• Encourage the child to keep coughing if they are able to
• If the child shows signs of becoming weak then you will need to give them 5 back slaps
• To do this bend the child over as far as you can at the same time providing support
• Using the palm of your hand hit the child hard between the shoulder blades up to 5 times
• Check the mouth to see if the obstruction has fallen out
• If this does not work then you must give chest thrusts
• To do this stand or knell behind the child and make a fist with one hand and place it against the lower half of the breastbone
• Grasp the fist with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards
• Carry out these chest thrusts 5 times at a rate of 1 every 3 seconds
• If this still does not remove the obstruction then you must give the child abdominal thrusts
• To do this stand or kneel behind the child placing both arms around the upper abdomen
• Ensure that the child is bent well forward
• Clench your fist and place it between the belly button and the bottom of the breastbone.
• Grasp the fist with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards 5 times
• If the obstruction still does not come out check the mouth again to see if you can easily reach it
• If not then continue to do 5 back slaps, 5 chest thrusts and 5 abdominal thrusts
• Repeat this cycle 3 times before calling for emergency help

When a baby aged 0-1 year is choking carry out the following procedures:

• When a baby begins to choke try to look in the mouth and see if the obstruction can be easily removed.
• If not then move the baby so that their head is facing downwards
• Apply 5 back slaps but with slightly less force than with a child
• Check the mouth again carefully for the obstruction
• If it still can not be removed then apply 5 chest thrusts but only use two fingers
• Check to see if the obstruction has been remover
• If not then continue to use back slaps and chest thrusts.
• Continue this fro 3 cycles then call for emergency help
• Do not ever apply abdominal thrusts on a baby
• If the baby becomes unconscious then begin CPR