Knowing what to do if someone is choking can make the difference between life and death in an emergency. By offering comprehensive first aid training, including what to do if someone is choking, Absolute Health Services ensures that individuals and workplaces have the skills needed for effective choking first aid.
What is Choking?
Choking occurs when an object, often a piece of food, becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air. This blockage can prevent the person from breathing and requires immediate attention. Common causes of choking include not chewing food properly, eating too quickly, or swallowing small objects.
Recognising the symptoms of choking is crucial in providing effective help. Key signs include the inability to speak, cough or breathe. The person’s face may turn red or blue as they struggle to breathe, and they may clutch their throat in a universal sign of distress. Understanding what is choking and identifying these symptoms will allow you to act quickly and effectively.
Learn What to Do if Someone is Choking
When you notice someone choking, it’s essential to act quickly to prevent serious harm. The first step when someone is choking is to encourage the person to keep coughing if possible. Coughing is a natural reflex that can help dislodge the object.
If coughing doesn’t work, perform 5 back blows. Stand to the side and slightly behind the casualty; support the chest with one hand, lean the casualty forward and administer five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand
If the back blows are not working then you will need to do 5 abdominal thrusts to try and dislodge the object. To perform abdominal thrusts, stand behind the choking person and wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the person’s abdomen, just above the navel. Grasp your fist with your other hand and perform quick, upward thrusts. These thrusts create pressure that can dislodge the object blocking the airway.
Performing Abdominal Thrusts for Adults and Children
For an adult, use quick, forceful upward thrusts to dislodge the object. For children, you might need to kneel to get to the right height, but the technique remains similar. Be mindful of the force used; children require less force than adults. Additionally, if the first few thrusts don’t work, continue with 5 alternating back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or emergency help arrives.
What to Do if the Person Becomes Unconscious
If the choking victim loses consciousness, quick action becomes even more vital. Here are the steps to follow if the person becomes unconscious:
- Call emergency services: Immediately call for medical help. Inform them that the person is unconscious and choking.
- Lean the person back: Carefully lay the person on their back on a flat surface and check in their mouth to see if you can see the obstruction.
- If you can see the obstruction, try to remove it by performing a finger sweep.
- If you can’t see the obstruction immediately start CPR with 30 compressions followed by 2 ventilations;
- Before giving the ventilations check in the casualty’s mouth if you perhaps can see the obstruction. It will be difficult to perform the mouth-to-mouth ventilations and breaths as there is an obstruction in the casualty’s airway, but try anyway;
- Continue with CPR until assistance arrives.
Conclusion
Dealing with a choking situation requires quick and decisive action. Knowing the symptoms, performing the back blows and abdominal thrusts, and taking steps if the person becomes unconscious are essential skills in choking treatment. For comprehensive first aid training, including what to do if someone is choking, consider signing up for a course with Absolute Health Services. Being trained and prepared for emergencies can save lives and provide peace of mind. Absolute Health Services offers expert guidance and practical training to ensure you’re ready to act when it matters most.
