6/CHOKING
CONSCIOUS ADULT OR CHILD
A. Ask: “Are you choking?”
(fig-18)
If casualty can speak or cough,
air way is open enough to force
out obstructing object.
B. If casualty CAN speak or
cough
1. Reassure and encourage
coughing
2. Do not hit on back.
C. If casualty CANNOT speak or cough
1. Stand behind casualty, locate hip bones and wrap
your arms around waist.
2. Make a fist with one hand and place above
navel, at hip
level. Grasp
fist with
other hand.
(fig.-19)
3. Thrust
inward and upward into
abdomen.
4. Repeat abdominal thrusts until
airway is clear or casualty
becomes unconscious.
5. If casualty becomes unconscious, follow steps in
UNCONSCIOUS ADULT OR CHILD.
CONSCIOUS INFANT
If obstruction is due to to upper respiratory tract infec-
tion (cough, cold, etc. ) do not give First Aid for chok-
ing. Get immediate medical attention.
A. Determine if infant is choking
on foreign substance.
B. Give 5 back blows: (fig-21)
1. Place infant’s head lower than
trunk.
2. Support head.
3. Give 5 back blows between
shoulder blades using heel of
one hand.
C. Give 5 chest thrusts: (fig-22)
1. Turn infant face up, keeping
head lower than trunk.
2. Support head.
3. Place 2 fingers on breastbone,
1 finger width below nippleline,
and give 5 chest thrusts.
D. Continue back blows and
chest thrusts until object is removed or infant
becomes unconscious.
E. If infant becomes unconscious, follow steps
in UNCONSCIOUS INFANT.
UNCONSCIOUS ADULT OR CHILD
A. Attempt Artificial Respiration. If air does not
go in...
B. Reposition head, ensure good seal and try
again. If air still
does not go in...
C. Give 5 abdominal
thrusts: (fig-20)
1. Straddle casualty’s
legs.
2. Locate waist. Place heel of one
hand in centre of abdomen just
above belly button. Place heel of
other hand on top.
3. Give 5 quick inward and upward
thrusts.
D. Inspect the mouth for foreign material.
1. Grasp lower jaw. Lift jaw forward and inspect
mouth.
Adult only:
insert finger of other hand deep into
mouth and sweep to remove foreign material.
E. Open airway and attempt to give 2 full
breaths. Repeat steps C-E until successful.
F. When obstruction clears, follow steps in
Section 4: ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION.
UNCONSCIOUS INFANT
A. Attempt Artificial Respiration.
If air does not go in....
B. Reposition head, ensure
good seal and try again. If
air still does not go in...
C. Give 5 back blows: (fig-23)
1. Place infants head lower than
trunk.
2. Support head
3. Give 5 back blows between
the shoulder blades using
heel of one hand.
D. Give 5 chest thrusts: (fig-24)
1. Turn infant face up, keeping
head lower than trunk and
support head.
2. Place 2 fingers on the breast-
bone just below nippleline.
3. Give 5 sharp thrusts.
E. Inspect the mouth.
1. Grasp the lower jaw. Lift jaw forward and inspect
mouth.
2. Only if foreign material is seen, sweep the mouth
with little finger of other hand.
F. Open airway and attempt to give 2 breaths.
Repeat steps C-F until successful.
G. When obstruction clears, follow steps in
Section 4: ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION.
