First aid for choking is a set of actions that anyone can take to help a person who is choking. Choking occurs when a foreign object gets stuck in the throat or windpipe, blocking airflow. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.
Choking Recognition
Signs of choking include difficulty breathing, inability to speak, bluish skin, lips, and nails, grabbing your throat with your hand, or trying to vomit. The victim may also become unconscious if the air flow is completely blocked.
First Aid for Choking
If the person is coughing vigorously, encourage them to continue coughing. However, if coughing is not effective (for example, if you cannot hear the coughing or if the coughing is not moving the object causing the gagging), you will need to apply the Heimlich maneuver.
Heimlich maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver is a first aid technique used to treat upper airway obstructions. Following are the steps to perform the Heimlich maneuver in adults and children over one year of age:
- Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
- Bend the person forward slightly and make a fist with one hand.
- Place your fist just above the person's navel.
- Grab the wrist with the other hand and press it in and up, as if you are trying to lift the person.
- Perform between 5 and 10 quick abdominal thrusts.
- Continue these compressions until the foreign object is expelled or the person begins to cough or breathe.
First Aid for Choking in Babies
For babies under one year old, the Heimlich maneuver can be too strong. Instead, you should try the following technique:
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- Sit down and place the baby face down on your forearm, cradling the baby's head with your hand.
- With the back of your other hand, give up to five firm slaps between the baby's shoulder blades.
- If that doesn't work, turn the baby over onto their back and, using two fingers, apply up to five quick thrusts to the baby's chest.
- Continue alternating between back slaps and chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the baby begins to cough, cry, or breathe.
In all cases of choking, it is important to seek medical attention immediately after the incident to ensure there is no airway damage or foreign objects remaining.
Prevention of Choking
To prevent gagging, make sure you chew food thoroughly, don't talk or laugh while eating, and keep small objects out of reach of children. In addition, parents should familiarize themselves with choking first aid techniques and consider obtaining certification in first aid and CPR.
