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It could happen anytime, anywhere, to anyone. It could be someone you know or a stranger seated nearby. It could even happen to you! It can be caused by a seemingly insignificant piece of bread or bite of meat and has the potential to be fatal. Every year, over 1000 people die from choking, including 200 children, mostly under the age of four. Its the fourth leading cause of death in the home, following falls, poison and fire. Each year, emergency rooms see over 17,000 cases of choking victims under 14 years old.
What causes a person to choke? Any obstruction in the upper airway that prevents oxygen from entering the lungs can cause choking. Its considered a medical emergency and it requires fast action on the part of anyone around. Calling 911 is of course a good idea, but emergency crews may not arrive fast enough. With the airway completely blocked, no oxygen is able to enter the lungs. The brain is incredibly sensitive to a lack of oxygen and will begin to die within 4-6 minutes. Irreversible brain death will occur within about 10 minutes. A choking victim needs help immediately and you should never attempt to drive them to the hospital.
Suppose youre out to dinner one night, or enjoying a family meal at home. Would you know what to do if someone nearby started choking? What if youre in the park, at the mall, on a camping trip or in a movie theater? What would you do? Your initial reaction may be to start slapping their back, but theres a great deal of controversy over this. Yes, it could possibly dislodge the obstruction, but its also just as likely to cause it to slip further down. The American Red Cross recommends 5 strong back blows as part of their protocol for choking victims. The American Heart Association does not recommend this. If you use back blows, limit them to 5.
When someone nearby appears to be choking and is coughing but is not turning blue, its best to do nothing yet. Its important to ask the victim Are you choking? It may seem a silly question but its purpose is to let you know if the obstruction is partial or complete. If they can answer you, its a partial obstruction and you should stay with the person and encourage the coughing until the body has dislodged it on its own. Dont offer a choking person something to drink. The fluid may take up valuable space that air needs to pass through.
If the person is choking and is only able to nod their response, or is turning blue, their airway is completely blocked and they need emergency help immediately. Instruct someone else to call 911 while you assist the victim by performing abdominal thrusts, formerly known as the Heimlich maneuver. This is to be used on adults and children over the age of one.
Stand behind the person and have them lean slightly forward.
Make a fist with one hand, put your arms around the victims body near the top of the stomach, just below the center of the ribcage and grab your fist with your other hand.
Make a quick, forceful movement inward and upward. This will compress the air in the lungs and force a cough, hopefully dislodging the obstruction.
It may take more than one thrust to dislodge the obstruction, try to remain calm and continue until the person appears to be recovering or loses consciousness. If they pass out, gently lower them to the floor and kneel beside them. Place the heel of your hand just below the ribcage, against the middle of the stomach and put your other hand on top of it. Use an inward and upward motion five times, pressing with both hands. If you clear the airway and the person is still unconscious and not responding, CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) must be started. You cannot begin CPR unless and until the airway is clear.
Hopefully youll never have to call on your knowledge of the Heimlich maneuver. But its better to have that knowledge and not need it, than to need it and not have it. A better way to be prepared is to call your local American Red Cross office or contact the American Heart association and enroll your entire family in a CPR course. It's knowledge we should all have, and having that knowledge may help you one day save someones life.
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