Kathleen Blair-Harmon, RN

Relief of Choking in Victims 1 Year of Age

and Older

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Relief of Choking

This presentation will discuss common

causes of choking and actions to relieve

choking – also known as foreign-body

airway obstruction (FBAO)

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Relief of Choking

Learning Objective:

At the completion of this presentation the

participant will be able to show how to relieve

choking in the responsive and unresponsive

victim over 1 year of age.

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Relief of Choking

• The key to a successful outcome is the early recognition of an airway obstruction.

• Foreign bodies can cause either mild or severe airway obstruction

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Relief of Choking• Signs of mild airway obstruction are:

– Good air exchange– Responsive and can cough forcefully– May wheeze between coughs

• As long as good air exchange continues, simply encourage the victim to continue spontaneous coughing and breathing efforts.– Do not interfere with the victim’s attempts to expel the

foreign body– Stay with the victim and monitor the situation– If the mild obstruction persists, activate the emergency

response system (911)

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Relief of Choking

It is important to recognize the signs and

symptoms of a severe airway obstruction.• Poor or no air exchange• Weak ineffective cough or no cough• High-pitched noise while inhaling/no noise at all• Increased respiratory difficulty• Cyanosis• Unable to speak• Making the universal choking sign• Unable to move air

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Relief of Choking

Universal Choking Sign

Clutching the neck with the thumb and fingers

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Relief of Choking

Step 1:

Ask, "Are you choking?" Stay calm, and try to keep the victim calm as well.

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Relief of Choking

Step 2: It is best to point to a specificperson and tell him to call 911. Instruct the person to tell the operator that someone is choking. Don't just call out for anyone to call 911, as bystanders may freeze or panic in emergency situations.

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Abdominal Thrusts

Step 3: Position yourself behind the choking person.

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Relief of Choking

Step 4: Place the thumb

side of your fist against

the victim’s abdomen,

in the midline, slightly

above the navel and

well below the

breastbone.

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Relief of Choking

Step 5: Grab your fist with your other

hand and press your fist into

the victim’s abdomen with a

quick upward thrust.

Give each thrust with

a separate and distinct

movement

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Relief of Choking

Step 6: Repeat thrusts until the object is expelled from the airway or the victim becomes unresponsive.

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Relief of Choking

• If a choking victim becomes unresponsive, you know that choking caused the symptoms.

• Activate 911, open the airway, remove the object if you see it, and begin CPR.

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Relief of Choking

• If you are alone with a child choking victim that becomes unresponsive, open

the airway, remove the object

is you see it, and begin CPR.

After about 5 cycles, or 2 minutes

of CPR, activate 911 if this has

not already been done.

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Relief of Choking

• For both the adult and child victims, look for an object each time you go to give a breath. If you see an object, remove it with your fingers. If you do not see an object, keep doing CPR.

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Relief of Choking

If the victim is pregnant or obese,

perform chest thrusts instead

of abdominal thrusts.

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Relief of Choking

You can tell you have successfully removed

an airway obstruction if you

• Feel air movement and see the chest rise when you give breaths

• See and remove a foreign body from the pharynx

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Relief of Choking

Any

Questions?

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Thank You

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