How to Help a Choking Child or Adult (Everyone Must Know!)

BRIGHT SIDE
2 Jul 201810:14
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script provides a comprehensive guide on how to handle choking emergencies. It emphasizes the importance of assessing the situation to determine if the airway obstruction is partial or total, and offers step-by-step instructions on the appropriate actions to take, including encouraging coughing, performing back slaps, the Heimlich maneuver, and CPR. The script also addresses how to assist different individuals such as pregnant women, obese people, infants, children, and even dogs, ensuring viewers are equipped with the knowledge to potentially save lives in various scenarios.

Takeaways
  • 👉 Assess the situation to determine if the airway obstruction is partial or total based on the victim's ability to speak or breathe.
  • 🗣️ Encourage a partially obstructed person to cough, as coughing is the most effective way to clear the airway.
  • 👏 Perform back slaps if the person can't cough, using the heel of your hand and delivering up to five strong blows between the shoulder blades.
  • 🏃‍♂️ Execute the Heimlich maneuver for a total airway obstruction by standing behind the victim and thrusting your fist upward towards their diaphragm.
  • 🚨 Help an unconscious person by laying them flat on their back and performing abdominal thrusts to clear the airway.
  • 🆘 Initiate CPR if the person doesn't start breathing after the object has been removed from the trachea.
  • 🤕 Self-rescue techniques include coughing, performing the Heimlich maneuver on oneself, or using a solid object to apply pressure to the abdomen.
  • 🤰 Modify the Heimlich maneuver for pregnant women or obese individuals by placing hands higher on the abdomen and pressing hard with quick thrusts.
  • 🍼 Save a choking infant by using back blows and chest thrusts, ensuring the head and neck are lower than the torso.
  • 🧒 Adapt the rescue method for a choking child over one year old by standing behind or kneeling in front and using inward and upward thrusts on the stomach.
  • 🐶 Assist a choking dog by first confirming the choking, attempting to remove the obstruction, and if necessary, applying back blows or the Heimlich maneuver.
Q & A

  • What is the first step to take when someone starts choking?

    -The first step is to assess the situation by determining if the airway obstruction is partial or total. If the person can still speak or make sounds, it is a partial blockage; if they cannot breathe or cough, it is a total blockage.

  • How can you encourage someone who is choking to clear their airway?

    -If the person can still cough, encourage them to continue coughing as it is the most effective way to clear the airways. Reassure them and help them stay calm, but do not suppress the cough or have them drink water while choking.

  • What should you do if the choking person cannot cough?

    -Stand behind the person, lean them forward, and deliver up to five strong blows between their shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. The blows should be directed upwards towards the victim's mouth.

  • How is the Heimlich maneuver performed correctly?

    -Stand behind the victim, place your arms around their torso, make a fist with one hand and place it above the navel but below the ribs, and then thrust your fist upwards towards the diaphragm several times until the blockage is cleared.

  • How can you help an unconscious choking person?

    -Lay the victim on their back, sit on their hips, and perform abdominal thrusts with the base of your palm between their belly button and lower ribs. If they do not start breathing after the object is removed, begin CPR.

  • What should you do if you are choking and there is no one around to help?

    -Start coughing vigorously. If that doesn't work, perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself by making a fist and thrusting it upwards into your abdomen. Alternatively, bend over a solid object like a chair and push upwards with your abdomen.

  • How should you modify the Heimlich maneuver for pregnant women or obese individuals?

    -Place your hands higher on the abdomen, above the lower ribs, and press inward and upwards with quick thrusts instead of the usual upward thrusts under the ribs.

  • How do you save a choking infant less than a year old?

    -Lay the infant facedown on your forearm with their head lower than their torso, and give five quick back blows between the shoulder blades. If needed, turn the infant face up and perform five quick chest thrusts on the breastbone.

  • What steps should you take to save a choking child over one year old?

    -Stand behind the child or kneel in front of them, put your arms around their waist, make a fist with one hand above the navel but below the ribs, and perform quick inward and upward thrusts with your elbows pressed to the sides.

  • How can you help an unconscious child who is choking?

    -Place the child on their back, tilt the head back, and if you see a foreign object, remove it. If the child is still not breathing, begin chest compressions and rescue breaths. Call 911 and continue CPR until help arrives.

  • What is the correct way to help a choking dog?

    -Check if the dog is choking and not suffering from another condition. If choking, give it a few minutes to cough it out. If needed, open the dog's mouth, use a flashlight to see down its throat, and remove the blockage if visible. If that doesn't work, perform back blows or the Heimlich maneuver on the dog, being careful not to hurt it.

Outlines
00:00
🚨 Choking Emergency Response

This paragraph outlines the steps to take during a choking emergency. It emphasizes the importance of assessing the situation to determine if the airway obstruction is partial or total. For partial blockage, encouraging the person to cough is advised, while for total blockage, the paragraph details the Heimlich maneuver and back slaps as appropriate responses. The guidance also includes what not to do in such situations, such as suppressing a cough or giving water, and highlights the importance of calmness to prevent further complications.

05:01
🤕 Adapting Choking Aid for Different Individuals

The second paragraph discusses modifications to the standard choking first aid procedures for different individuals. It addresses how to assist pregnant women and obese individuals with a larger abdomen by placing hands higher up and using quick chest thrusts. The paragraph also covers how to save a choking infant by using specific techniques for their size and physical condition. It further explains the steps to save a choking child over one year old and what to do if the child is unconscious. Lastly, it provides guidance on how to help a choking dog, including checking for actual choking, using back blocks, and the Heimlich maneuver, while stressing the importance of a vet visit even after successful first aid.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Choking
Choking refers to a situation where an object or food is lodged in the throat or trachea, blocking the flow of air and making breathing difficult or impossible. In the video, choking is the primary emergency situation being addressed, with various techniques provided to alleviate or resolve the issue depending on the severity and the victim's ability to breathe.
💡Airway obstruction
Airway obstruction occurs when the passage of air through the respiratory system is hindered, often due to a foreign object. In the context of the video, identifying whether the airway obstruction is partial or total is crucial to determine the appropriate response, such as encouraging coughing or performing the Heimlich maneuver.
💡Coughing
Coughing is a natural reflex action that helps to clear the airways of irritants, mucus, or foreign objects. The video emphasizes that coughing is the most effective way to clear a partially obstructed airway, advising individuals to encourage a choking person to cough rather than trying to suppress the cough.
💡Back slaps
Back slaps are a series of forceful blows delivered between the shoulder blades in an attempt to dislodge an object causing an airway obstruction. The video provides instructions on the correct technique for administering back slaps, which involves standing behind the victim and using the heel of the hand to deliver up to five strong blows.
💡Heimlich maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, is a first aid procedure for treating upper airway obstructions. The video outlines the steps for performing this maneuver, which involves standing behind the choking person, making a fist, and thrusting it upwards towards the diaphragm to force out the lodged object.
💡Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness refers to a state where a person is unresponsive and unaware of their surroundings, which can occur in severe choking incidents. The video discusses specific procedures for helping an unconscious choking victim, including laying them down, performing abdominal thrusts, and initiating CPR if necessary.
💡CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
CPR is an emergency medical procedure performed to restore breathing and blood circulation in cases of cardiac arrest or severe choking. The video mentions that if an object is removed from the airway and the victim still isn't breathing, one should proceed with CPR, highlighting the importance of this technique in life-saving situations.
💡Pregnant women
Pregnant women may require a modified version of the Heimlich maneuver due to their enlarged abdomen. The video explains that rescuers should place their hands higher on the stomach and use quick chest thrusts instead of the standard upward abdominal thrusts to avoid injury to the unborn child.
💡Infants
Infants, particularly those less than a year old, require a different approach when choking. The video describes the procedure for helping a choking infant, which involves laying them facedown on the forearm and delivering blows between the shoulder blades or performing chest thrusts if the infant is laid on their back.
💡Children
Children, especially those over one year of age, have specific guidelines for choking first aid. The video details the steps for rescuing a choking child, which includes standing behind or kneeling in front of them, and using inward and upward thrusts on the stomach while avoiding the ribcage to prevent injury.
💡Dogs
The video also addresses how to assist a choking dog, emphasizing the importance of confirming the animal is indeed choking and not suffering from another condition. Techniques such as back blocks and the Heimlich maneuver, with careful adjustments for a canine's anatomy, are discussed as potential methods to save a choking dog's life.
Highlights

The importance of closely observing the situation when someone starts choking to determine the severity of the airway obstruction.

If the choking person can speak or make sounds, it indicates a partial airway obstruction and they should be encouraged to cough.

In the case of a total airway obstruction, the victim will be unable to breathe, cough, or speak, and may display physical signs such as blueness around the lips and fingernails.

The correct response when someone is choking is to encourage them to cough rather than attempting to suppress the cough or drinking water.

If the choking individual cannot cough, the rescuer should administer up to five forceful back blows using the heel of the hand.

Performing back blows incorrectly, such as using fists or on a person standing upright, can worsen the situation and should be avoided.

The Heimlich maneuver is an effective technique to dislodge an object from a choking person's airway by pushing out unused air from the lungs.

When performing the Heimlich maneuver, it is crucial to place the hands correctly on the victim's abdomen and avoid hitting the ribs to prevent injury.

For an unconscious choking person, the rescuer should begin abdominal thrusts while the victim is laid on their back and seated on their hips.

If an object is removed from the airway and the person does not start breathing, CPR should be initiated immediately.

In situations where one is choking alone without assistance, self-rescue techniques like coughing and performing the Heimlich maneuver on oneself can be life-saving.

Modifying the Heimlich maneuver is necessary when dealing with pregnant women or obese individuals to prevent injury.

For infants less than a year old, the rescuer should perform back blows and chest thrusts to clear the airway.

In the case of a choking child over one year old, the rescuer should stand behind or kneel beside the child and perform inward and upward thrusts on the stomach.

For an unconscious child, the rescuer should attempt to remove the obstruction, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and begin chest compressions if necessary.

When helping a choking dog, it's important to first confirm that the animal is indeed choking and not suffering from another condition.

Back blows and the Heimlich maneuver can also be used to save a choking dog, with care taken to avoid injury.

In all choking emergencies, calling for emergency medical assistance and staying with the victim until help arrives is essential.

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