How To Treat Conscious Choking In An Adult Or Child
Learning to spot and treat the symptoms of conscious choking can save the life of someone you care about or a stranger on the street. You'll be better prepared after watching this demonstration of how to treat conscious choking in an adult or a child.
Step 1: Back Blows
If you encounter a situation where a person may be choking, you need to act quickly to make sure that you get air into the lungs. The person may start to cough. If so, encourage them to keep coughing. Once the person can't cough anymore, they may grab their throat and that means that means they may not be getting any air. Ask permission to help them. If they agree that you can help them, perform five back blows between their shoulder blades.
Step 2: Get In Position
If the back blows DO NOT dislodge the item continue to Step 2 : Get In Position
Stand behind the victim and put a foot right between their feet. Now, find the belly button. An easy way to find the belly button is to move your hands from the victim's hips to the center of their belly. Hold you finger just above the belly button and move your fist to the same spot, thumb side against the abdomen of the victim. Keep your head to the side as you perform abdominal thrusts.
Step 3: Abdominal Thrusts
Perform five abdominal thrusts in a j-shaped motion with your entire arm to force air out and dislodge the item.
Note: If the victim happens to be pregnant, had recent surgery, or if you cannot reach around the victim, raise the arms of the victim and put a fist in the center of the victim's chest. Place your other hand on top of your fist, and move both hands straight back into the chest of the victim.
Continue to perform the back blows and abdominal thrusts until the victim begins to cough forcefully, they start to talk, they pass out, or until there is danger to you.
Remembering these steps in an emergency could save a life. We recommend everyone take a class and review these steps periodically.
