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If a person is choking, the Heimlich maneuver can be used to remove an object that has become lodged in the airway
Choking occurs when a foreign object, such as food or a toy, becomes lodged in the throat, obstructing or completely blocking airflow.
If a person is unable to breathe or speak because of choking, the Heimlich maneuver can be used to remove an object that has become lodged in the airway. To perform the Heimlich maneuver on someone:
- Stand behind the person, leaning forward slightly and placing your arms around their waist.
- Make a fist with your thumb facing in and place it just above their navel.
- With your other hand, grab your fist and push inward and upward at the same time. Repeat 5 times.
- Continue until the object has been expelled and the person can breathe or cough on their own.
- If the person is unable to stand, straddle them at the waist, facing their head. Push your fist inward and upward above the navel.
You can also alternate between striking the person on the back 5 times with the heel of your hand and performing 5 abdominal thrusts as described above.
If the person loses consciousness because of choking, immediate medical attention is needed.
- Before medical help arrives, rescue breathing and chest compressions are required.
- Even if the object is expelled, the individual should be taken to the emergency room.
How to help a baby or child who is choking
Children under the age of 8 have much narrower trachea than adults and are still learning to chew, swallow, and breathe correctly, making them far more prone to choking.
- Coughing: Encourage them to cough to remove the blockage. Do not panic. If the child's airway is only partially blocked, they should be able to speak, cry, cough, or breathe normally. If you can see the object, try to remove it. If you can't see the object, don't put your fingers in their mouth because you might push it further down.
- Back blows: Back blows can be used if they are conscious and coughing is not working. For infants or toddlers, place them face down on your forearm or thigh with their head low to support the back and head. Use the heel of your hand to perform 5 blows in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades. Examine the child's mouth for the foreign object and remove it if possible.
- Chest or abdominal thrusts: If they are still conscious and back blows have not worked, use chest or abdominal thrusts:
- For children under 1 year of age, place the child along the length of your thighs, facing up. Locate the breastbone and place 2 fingers in the center to do 5 sharp chest thrusts, compressing the chest by about 1.5 inches allowing the chest to rise between compressions.
- For children over 1 year of age, kneel or stand behind the child and wrap your arms around the upper abdomen and under their arms. Make a fist and place it between your navel and ribs. With your other hand, grasp your fist and pull sharply inward and upward. Repeat up to 5.
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What are the signs of choking?
A person holding their hands around their throat is the most universal sign of choking. Other behaviors could indicate that someone is choking include:
- Coughing or gagging
- Panicking and signalling for help
- Inability to speak, make noise, or breathe
- Turning blue around the lips, face, and nails
- Breathing difficulty, weak crying and coughing (in infants)
Partial choking can cause:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Breathlessness
Dangers of choking include:
- Partial choking may result in a chest infection.
- Full choking may cause brain damage or death if not timely treated.
In rare cases, choking can be fatal. Therefore, it is critical to provide first aid as soon as possible.
