Choking Emergencies

If you are without Oxygen this is what will happen:

• 4-6 minutes-possible brain damage• 6-10 minutes-brain damage is likely• Over 10 minutes-irreversible brain

damage

What can cause an airway obstruction?

Signs of choking• Coughing forcefully• Clutching throat• Making high pitch noises• Bluish skin color• Trouble breathing• Shortness/gasping of breath• Panic/fear

Conscious choking techniques

• Check scene• Check victim Are you ok?• Call 911• Say who you are, level of training, what

care you would like to give and ask for permission to help. IF THEY SAY YES-

• Put arm across their chest and have them lean forward-perform 5 back blows

• If object does not come out• Find the navel, put hand above navel and put

other hand over it-perform 5 abdominal thrusts.

• Continue performing back blows and abdominal thrusts until: object comes out, person goes unconscious, person can cough forcefully or breathe, YOU are too tired to continue, or EMS arrives.

Exceptions-give chest thrusts instead

(Place fist in center of breastbone)

1. Person is pregnant2. Can’t get yourHands around person(obese)

If you are alone and choking

• Try to perform abdominal thrusts on yourself by using

• your hands• A chair• A counter• A edge of sink

Conscious choking techniques for child

• Same as adult except: ask permission from adult/guardian-IF YES

• Go on knees so you are on the same level as the child-perform back blows & abdominal thrusts

Choking techniques for infant• You MUST support the head and neck

when performing both skills. Must support BODY of Infant on your leg.

Placement for chest thrusts-2-3 fingers below nipple line

CAUSES of Airway obstruction

• Object in airway• Electrocution• Shock• Drowning• Illness• Asthma or emphysema• Allergy• Overdose on drugs• Contact with toxic substances

Respiratory distress-(Most common breathing emergency)difficulty with

breathing

• Sign and symptoms-gasping, shallow or deep breaths, wheezing, gurgling, high pitched sounds, pale or blue skin,

• dizzy/ lightheaded and pain in chest.

Asthma• Narrow the air passage and makes

breathing difficult.• Very serious for children ages 10-14

death can occur.• Causes-allergies to: food,

pollen,drugs,bites or physical activity.• What are the signs and symptoms?• Treatment-Medications

Emphysema-Lungs and alveoli lose ability to exchange oxygen

and carbon dioxide.

• Bronchitis-inflammation of the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles due to a build up of mucus.

Anaphylactic shock-severe allergic reaction

• What things are people allergic to?

Signs and symptoms of respiratory distress in children

• Agitation• Slow or fast breathing• Drowsiness• Noisy breathing• Pale, ashen or blue skin• Increase in heart and breathing rates• Difficulty breathing

Hyperventilation -breathing faster than normal

Cause-fear, head injury, bleeding, high fever, heart failure, lung disease, asthma and exercise.

Signs and symptoms-fear, confusion, dizzy and numb.

Treatment-reassurance, paper bag, cupped hands and controlled breathing (in through nose and out through mouth).

Unconscious choking techniquesfor the adult

• Check the scene• Check the victim-are you okay? Shoulder tap• Call 911• Head tilt/chin lift• Look, listen and feel for 10 seconds• Give 2 breaths (breaths don’t go in)• Retilt the head and give 2 more breaths• ( breaths still do not go in)• Give 30 compressions-at least 2 inches• Look for object- Finger sweep if you see it• 2 breaths Until what???????

Unconscious choking child• Check the scene• Check the victim-are you okay? Shoulder tap• Call 911• Ask for permission from parent• Head tilt/chin lift• Look, listen and feel for 10 seconds• Give 2 breaths (breaths don’t go in)• Retilt the head and give 2 more breaths• ( breaths still do not go in)• Give 30 compressions-less effort about 2 inches• Look for object-Finger sweep if you see it• 2 breaths Until what???????

Unconscious choking infant• Check the scene• Check the victim-are you okay? Foot flick• Call 911• Ask permission from parent/guardian• Head tilt/chin lift• Look, listen and feel for 10 seconds• Give 2 breaths (breaths don’t go in)• Retilt the head and give 2 more breaths• ( breaths still do not go in)• Give 30 compressions-1 ½ inches deep(Hold head with one hand)• Look for object -Finger sweep if you see it• 2 breaths Until what???????