Conscious Adult Choking

When somebody appears to choke on an object and they cannot breathe, cough, or speak, this is a full obstruction. This will lead to unconsciousness if not treated.

Steps

  1. Call emergency services if time allows.

       1. The person is conscious. You don’t necessarily need to call for help just yet. Should they become unconscious, then calling emergency services would become a priority.

  1. Approach the person and ask if they are choking, and ask for permission to help them.
  2. Elevate the elbows and find the belly button of the patient.

       1. This will be your landmark for this maneuver.

  1. Tuck your thumb in and make a fist. Put the fist just above the belly button.

       1. Stay below the xiphoid process and just above the belly button.

  1. Keep your elbows out as you brace the fist with your other hand. Push inwards and upwards.
  2. Keep doing these thrusts until:

       1. The patient is unconscious and unresponsive.    2. The object is dislodged and the choking person begins to breathe, cough, and speak on their own.

  1. If you have not called emergency services, now would be the time to do so, regardless if they are unconscious.

       1. Conscious individuals may still have a partial obstruction or an injury from the abdominal thrusts. It’s not unwise to check just in case.

For pregnant patients

Special considerations need to be taken as to not injure the baby as you help a pregnant individual. As the baby is in the normal location where one would usually do abdominal thrusts, following normal procedures may injure it.

  1. Form a fist, and place it on the sternum. Avoid the abdominal area completely.
  2. Take the opposite hand and brace your first with it.
  3. Do inward, deep thrusts.

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