Basic airway management is a vital skill and consists of maintaining a clear and healthy airway. Should the airway become blocked, a patient’s life will cease after roughly eight minutes. Therefore it is one of the most essential parts of any assessment. The airway The airway is one of the main parts of the respiratory […]
Recognising Choking
Signs of choking include:
- Inability to speak, breathe, or cough
- Grasping the throat (universal choking sign)
- Wheezing or high-pitched sounds while inhaling
- Skin turning blue (cyanosis)
- Loss of consciousness if the obstruction is not cleared
First Aid for Choking
Immediate response varies based on the age and consciousness of the individual:
Adults and Children Over One Year
- Encourage Coughing: If the person can cough, encourage them to continue, as this may expel the object.
- Back Blows: If coughing is ineffective, deliver up to five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. Ensure the person is leaning forward to allow the object to exit the mouth. Learn more about adult choking management.
- Abdominal Thrusts: If back blows fail, perform up to five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre). Stand behind the person, place a fist above their navel, grasp it with your other hand, and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Watch a demonstration of abdominal thrusts.
- Alternate Actions: Repeat cycles of five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the obstruction is cleared or the person becomes unresponsive.
- Call Emergency Services: If the obstruction persists, call 999 or 112 immediately and continue first aid measures. Understand the importance of timely intervention.
Infants Under One Year
- Back Blows: Support the infant’s head and body, hold them face down along your forearm, and deliver up to five back blows between the shoulder blades.
- Chest Thrusts: If back blows are ineffective, turn the infant face up, support their head, and deliver up to five chest thrusts using two fingers placed on the centre of the chest just below the nipple line.
- Alternate Actions: Repeat cycles of back blows and chest thrusts until the obstruction is cleared or the infant becomes unresponsive.
- Call Emergency Services: If the obstruction persists, call 999 or 112 immediately and continue first aid measures.
Preventing Choking
To reduce the risk of choking:
- Supervise Meals: Ensure individuals, especially young children, eat slowly and chew food thoroughly.</
- Avoid Small Objects: Keep small items out of reach of children to prevent accidental ingestion.
- Cut Food Appropriately: Slice food into small, manageable pieces, particularly for young children.
- Educate on Safe Eating Habits: Discourage talking or laughing while eating.
- Be Mindful of High-Risk Foods: Exercise caution with foods like nuts, grapes, and hard sweets that pose higher choking risks.
Further Resources
Enhance your knowledge and preparedness:
For comprehensive first aid training, consider enrolling in our First Aid at Work Annual Refresher (VTQ) course.
