Hey friends!

Welcome to “What to Do When…,” your go-to guide for handling emergencies with confidence. In this series, we’ll be providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to act swiftly and effectively in various situations.

On today’s episode, we’ll be discussing what to do when someone is choking.

Sometimes, foreign objects, such as food or other particles, may lodge in the airway, obstructing breathing. Young children may choke on foods like peanuts or even a part of a toy. This may lead to either a partial or total blockage of the airway.

Choking is a terrifying experience both for the person choking and those around them. Knowing how to respond can save a life. In this guide, we’ll outline the steps to take when faced with a choking emergency.

Remember, panicking can cloud your judgement and hinder your ability to help effectively. So, before any action, you would need to remain calm and assess the situation. 

SIGNS

The first step in any emergency situation is to identify the signs, confirming that the individual is indeed in danger.

In a partially blocked airway, the individual may show signs including;

• Cough (could be weak or forceful)
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing
• Skin, nails, and lips may turn blue or gray
• Hands clutched to the neck or chest
• Look of panic
• Inability to talk
• Loss of consciousness (sometimes)

Similarly, in a completely blocked airway, there would be signs including;

• Inability to cough
• Inability to breathe
• Unconsciousness
• The airway resists air and the chest fails to rise when rescue breaths are given

These signs would help in assessing the severity of the situation.

ACTION

If the individual is coughing, signifying a partial blockage, encourage them to continue coughing forcefully as this may help them dislodge the foreign object on their own. Also be sure to seek medical aid if laboured breathing is continued. However, if such an individual is unconscious and breathing, place them in the lateral position, monitoring the airway, breathing, and pulse, and seek medical aid urgently.

Now, if a person is noticed to have a completely blocked airway, evidenced by the inability to breathe, cough, or speak, the procedure differs. First, you position the casualty so that the head is slightly lower than the chest, and give 3-4 firm blows on the back, using the heel of your hand, between the shoulder blades. This action causes a vibration in the airway which may help dislodge the foreign body. For a baby (<1), you would need to support their chest and body across your knee or forearm, and for a child (>1) place them head down across your knee, while supporting their chest with one hand.

WARNING: If the individual can cough, cry, or walk, do not hit them on their back because this may cause the obstruction to shift, leading to a total blockage of the airway.

However, if they are still unable to cough, speak, or breathe, then a procedure known as the “HEIMLICH MANEUVER” should be performed immediately.

The Heimlich Maneuver is a technique used to clear a blocked airway. To do this;

• First, you stand directly behind the person who is choking and wrap your arms around their waist.
• Make a fist with one hand and clasp your other hand tightly around it.
• Place the thumb side of your fist just below their ribcage and about two inches above their navel.
• Press into the abdomen with quick, upward thrusts, as if trying to lift the person up. For a child, thrust gently, so as to avoid damage to their internal organs.
• Give 5 abdominal thrusts. Check if the blockage has been removed.
• Repeat as necessary.
• If the person is pregnant, or if you cant get your arms around their stomach, give chest thrust, by putting your hands at the base of the breastbone and pressing hard in quick thrusts, as you would do in the Heimlich Maneuver.

If you’re the only rescuer, give back blows and abdominal thrusts first. Then call your local emergency number for help. If another person is there, have that person call for help while you give first aid.

If the casualty becomes unconscious, start standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with chest compressions and rescue breaths (Fear not, this would be taught in another episode).

Choking can happen suddenly, whether you’re enjoying a meal with friends or simply going about your day. Being prepared and knowing what to do when someone is choking can mean the difference between life and death.

I hope this post has taught you a thing or two.

Stay tuned for our next episode!