Choking

Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the windpipe, blocking the flow of air. In adults, this is normally a piece of food; in children it can be any small object that they have put in their mouth.

Symptoms

The person may be clutching their hands to the throat and:

• Have difficulty breathing
• Have difficulty speaking or coughing
• Have blue lips and skin
• Lose consciousness.

What to do

For Adults and children

• Encourage the person to cough. If the person is able to cough, they should be able to clear the problem themselves.
• If the person cannot cough, breath or speak – swift action is necessary:
• Give person up to 5 sharp back blows with the heel of one hand in the middle of the back, between the shoulder blades.
• If blockage has still not cleared, you will need to perform the Heimlich Manoeuvre.

Heimlich manoeuvre:

• Stand behind the person and put your arms around their waist.
• Make a fist with one hand and place it between the navel (belly button) and bottom of the breastbone – grasp it with the other hand.
• Lean the person slightly forward and pull sharply into the abdomen, with a quick upwards thrust. Repeat until the obstruction is dislodged.
• If the person becomes unconscious, begin CPR.

For infants (younger than 1 year)

• Lay the child face down along your forearm.
• Thump on the middle of the back up to five times, gently but firmly, using the heel of your hand.
• Check the infant’s mouth and remove any obvious obstructions. DO NO do a finger sweep of the mouth.

If the infant is still choking:

• Turn the child onto their back and give up to 5 chest thrusts, by pushing against the infant’s breastbone using two fingers.
• If the obstruction does not clear, call for an ambulance and continue with back blows and chest thrusts until help arrives.