LESSON 7 AIRWAY OBSTRUCTIONS 2011 National Safety Council

Choking Emergencies • Choking is a total or partial obstruction of airway • Common

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! © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -3

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -4

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -5

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -6

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -7

Abdominal Thrusts (chest thrust) © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -8

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -9

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -10

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 7 -11