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Choking - unconscious adult or child over 1 year

Definition

Choking is when breathing is hindered or stopped by blockage of the throat or windpipe.

Alternative Names

Considerations

Without oxygen, the brain begins to die within 4 - 6 minutes. Rapid first aid for choking can save a life.

After removing the object that caused the choking, keep the person still and get medical help. Anyone who is choking should have a medical examination, since complications can arise not only from the choking incident, but also from the first aid measures that were taken.

Occasionally an object will enter the lung. While the person may appear to improve and breathe normally, in a few days symptoms may develop, such as:

• Persistent cough
• Pneumonia
• Wheezing

If this happens, get medical help right away.

Causes

• Eating (especially eating and laughing at the same time, eating with poorly fitted dentures, eating too fast, and failing to chew food well enough)
• Drinking alcohol (even a small amount of alcohol affects awareness)
• Having trauma to the head and face (swelling or bleeding can cause choking)
• Swallowing small objects (young children)

Symptoms

• Air is not going into the lungs with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
• Bluish color to the lips and nails
• Not breathing
• Unable to talk
• Unconscious

First Aid

1. Roll the person onto their back on a hard surface, keeping their back in a straight line, firmly supporting their head and neck. Expose the person's chest.

2. Open the person's mouth with your thumb and index finger, placing your thumb over his tongue and your index finger under his chin. If the object is visible and loose, remove it. If the person is older than age 8, sweep two fingers from one side of the throat to the other to attempt to remove the object.

3. Lift the person's chin while tilting the head back to move the tongue away from the windpipe.

4. Place your ear close to the person's mouth and watch for chest movement. For 5 seconds, look, listen, and feel for breathing.

5. If the person is breathing, give first aid for unconsciousness.

6. If the person is not breathing, begin rescue breathing. Maintain the head position, close the person's nostrils by pinching them with your thumb and index finger, and cover the person's mouth tightly with your mouth. Give two slow, full breaths, with a pause in between.

7. If the person's chest does not rise, reposition the head and give two more breaths.

8. Open the person's mouth with your thumb and index finger. If the object is visible and loose, remove it.

9. If the object is removed, but the person has no pulse, begin CPR with chest compressions. IF no object is visible, begin CPR.

10. If the person starts having convulsions or seizures, give first aid for this problem.

DO NOT

DO NOT try to grasp an object that is lodged in the person's throat. This might push it farther down the airway. If the object can be seen in the mouth, it may be removed.

DO NOT begin the chest compressions of CPR (if heartbeat has stopped) until the airway is cleared.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Seek medical help right away if someone is found unconscious.

If you are not alone, have one person call the local emergency number while another person begins CPR. If you are alone, shout for help. If you are trained in CPR, call the local emergency number and then give CPR.

Prevention

• Eat slowly and chew food completely.
• Don't drink too much alcohol before or during eating.
• Keep small objects away from young children.
• Make sure dentures fit properly.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.