CHOKING

Prepared by:
Jun Ian Acabal Chua, RN
Mc Neil Silvano Mahinay, RN
A choking person’s airway may be completely
or partially blocked. A complete blockage is
an urgent medical emergency. A partial
obstruction can quickly become life
threatening if the person loses the ability to
breathe in and out sufficiently. Without
oxygen, permanent brain damage can occur in
as little as 4 minutes. Rapid first aid for
choking can save a life.
 Signs and Symptoms of Choking

 A child who is choking often appears panicked

and may wave his or her arms or grab at his or
her throat. Older children may hold the neck with
one or both hands, which is the universal sign
for choking. Signs and symptoms of choking
include struggling to breathe (gasping),
coughing, gagging, and bluish lips or skin.
 If a choking child can cry, speak, or cough
forcibly, the airway is partially blocked. In
many instances, the child will dislodge the
obstruction by coughing or gagging. However, if
the child cannot cry, speak, or cough forcibly; has
a high-pitched voice or noisy breathing
(wheezing); or changes from red to blue in color,
the airway may be completely blocked
and immediate medical treatment is necessary.
The standard rescue procedure for choking in
children over the age of 1 and adults is called
the Heimlich maneuver.
 COMPLICATIONS OF
CHOKING

 Brain damage (caused by reduced blood flow to

the brain resulting in a lack of oxygen)

 Collapsed lung (may occur when air flow

through one of the bronchi is completely
obstructed)
 Loss of consciousness (caused by reduced blood
flow to the brain)

 Pneumonia (may occur when small particles

containing bacteria remain in the respiratory tract
and enter the lungs)
 FIRST AID FOR CHOKING
Call 911 if:
 The person is choking.

 The person is having trouble breathing or has

noisy breathing.

 The person is unconscious.

 While Waiting for 911...

 If the Person Is Conscious but Not Able to

Breathe or Talk:

1. Give Back Blows

 Give up to 5 blows between the shoulder blades

with the heel of your hand.
2. If Person Is Still Choking, Do Thrusts

 If the person is not pregnant or too obese, do

abdominal thrusts:

 Stand behind the person and wrap your arms

around the waist.

 Place your clenched fist just above the person’s

navel. Grab your fist with your other hand.
 Quickly pull inward and upward as if trying to
lift the person up.

 Perform a total of 5 abdominal thrusts.

 If the blockage is still not dislodged, continue

cycles of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts
until the object is coughed up or the person starts
to breathe or cough.

 Take the object out of his mouth only if you can

see it. Never do a finger sweep unless you can
see the object in the person's mouth.
If the person is obese or pregnant, do high
abdominal thrusts:

 Stand behind the person, wrap your arms them,

and position your hands at the base of the breast
bone.

 Quickly pull inward and upward.

 Repeat until the object is dislodged.

3. Give CPR, if Necessary

 If the obstruction comes out, but the person is not

breathing or if the person becomes unconscious:

 For an infant, follow CPR for infants.

 For a child, follow CPR for children.

 For an adult, follow CPR for adults.

4.Follow Up

 When emergency medical personnel arrive,

they will take over and may do CPR or take
the person to the hospital, if needed.
Thank You
for listening