© 2011 National Safety Council
AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIONSLESSON 7
7-1
© 2011 National Safety Council
Choking Emergencies
• Choking is a total or partial obstruction of airway
• Common cause of respiratory arrest
• Immediate care is needed
7-2
© 2011 National Safety Council
Choking Risks
• Over 4,600 people die from choking each year
• Adults over age 65 are twice as likely to die as younger people from choking
Most cases can be prevented!
7-3
© 2011 National Safety Council
Choking Risks continued
• Trying to swallow large pieces of food that haven’t been chewed sufficiently
• Eating too quickly
• Eating while engaged in other activities
• Alcohol or drugs often involved
• Dentures increase risk
• History of stroke
7-4
© 2011 National Safety Council
Mild Choking
• Victim is coughing forcefully
• Victim is getting some air
- May be making wheezing or high-pitched sounds with breath
• Do not interrupt coughing or attempts to expel object
7-5
© 2011 National Safety Council
Severe Choking
• Victim getting little air or none
• Victim may look frantic and be clutching at throat (universal sign of choking)
• Victim may have pale or bluish coloring around mouth and nail beds
• Victim may be coughing weakly and silently or not at all
• Victim cannot speak
7-6
© 2011 National Safety Council
Choking Care (Responsive Adult or Child)
• Responsive choking victim who is coughing:
- Encourage coughing to clear object- Call 9-1-1 if object not immediately expelled
• Responsive choking victim who cannot speak or cough forcefully:
- Give abdominal thrusts
• If choking victim becomes unresponsive, immediately call 9-1-1
• Begin CPR with chest compressions
7-7
© 2011 National Safety Council
Abdominal Thrusts (chest thrust)
7-8
© 2011 National Safety Council
Responsive to Unresponsive
• If complete airway obstruction not cleared, victim will become unresponsive in minutes
• Quickly and carefully lower victim to floor on back
• Begin CPR with 30 chest compressions
- Check for object in mouth each time you open it to give rescue breaths
7-9
© 2011 National Safety Council
Unresponsive Victim
• Check for normal breathing
• If victim not breathing normally, start CPR with 30 chest compressions
• If first breath doesn’t go in after opening airway – try again to open airway and give breath
• If second breath doesn’t go in – give care for choking
7-10
© 2011 National Safety Council
Choking Infants
• If infant is crying or coughing – watch for object to come out
• If infant cannot cry or cough
- Have someone call 9-1-1- Give alternating back blows (slaps) and chest thrusts
• If infant becomes unresponsive – give CPR starting with chest compressions
- Check for object in mouth each time before giving a rescue breath
7-11
© 2011 National Safety Council
• 5 Back blows
• 5 Chest thrusts
7-12