CHOKING

About 3,000 deaths caused by foreign body airway obstruction (choking) are reported each year.

Choking usually occurs during eating. In adults, meat is the most common cause of obstruction,
although a variety of foods and foreign bodies have been the cause of obstruction in children and
some adults.

RISK FACTORS

1. Large, poorly chewed pieces of food.
2. Elevated blood alcohol levels.
3. Dentures,
4. Playing, crying, laughing, talking while food or foreign bodies are present in the mouth.

PREVENTION

1. Cut food into small pieces and chew slowly and thoroughly, especially if you are wearing dentures.
2. Avoid excessive intake of alcohol before and during meals,
3. Avoid laughing and talking during chewing and swallowing.
4. Prevent children from walking, running, or playing with food or foreign objects in their mouths.
5. Keep foreign objects (e.g., marbles, beads, and thumbtacks) away from infants and small children.

If the victim is coughing or can speak - take no corrective action. Stay with victim, provided reassurance, and monitor victim. Allow victim to clear their airway by their own coughing.
Be prepared should corrective action become necessary.

A choking victim could collapse in one minute and might die without our help.

Always summon medical help (nearest EMS provider) immediately.

CHOKING SIGN

VICTIM CANNOT SPEAK TO YOU - LEARN THIS SIGN
FOR CHOKING.

If the patient is coughing or can speak - Do Nothing

If they cannot breath or speak to you, Take Action:

* Reassure the victim.
* Support their body.
* Perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) until the foreign body is
   expelled or the victim becomes unconscious see photo 1.
* For victims in late pregnancy or who are obese see photo 2.

Photo 1                                                       Photo 2

Should the victim become unconscious ease them to the ground and position them on their back.

* Check for the foreign body which may have become dislodged
* Open airway and attempt to ventilate with rescue breathing.
* Airway remains obstructed? Give 6-10 abdominal thrusts.
* Recheck for foreign body in mouth.
* Reattempt to ventilate with rescue breathing

Repeat sequence until successful or you are relieved by rescue personnel,

INFANT                          

 Place infant over your arm, with head lower than body;

Deliver four back blows;

Follow with chest thrust.

IF UNSUCCESSFUL REPEAT.