Figure 15
Choking is a common preventable cause of cardiac arrest. The correct response for a choking person depends on the degree of airway obstruction, whether the person is responsive or not, and the age of the person. See Table 3 for rescue actions for choking in adult and children.
Choking In Adults And Children
| Degree of Obstruction | Person’s Response | Rescuers Action |
|---|---|---|
| Mild Obstruction |
|
|
| Severe Obstruction |
|
|
Table 3
Figure 16: Abdominal
Thrusts
Abdominal Thrusts
These steps should only be used when a person is responsive and older than one year of age.
To properly perform the abdominal thrusts, do the following:
-
Stand behind the responsive person. Wrap your arms around their waist under their ribcage.
-
Put the side of your fist above the person’s navel in the middle of their belly. Do not press on the lower part of the sternum (Figure 16a).
-
With your other hand, hold the first fist and press forcefully into the person’s abdomen and up toward their chest (Figure 16b and 16c).
- Continue performing these thrusts until the obstruction is relieved or until the person becomes unresponsive.
If you can see a foreign object in the individual’s mouth and can easily remove it, then do it. Watch and feel for breathing to begin. If the individual does not begin breathing, continue to provide CPR and rescue breaths until help arrives.