BLS Choking 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sign best indicates a SEVERE (complete) airway obstruction in an adult?
- Loud, high-pitched stridor
- Strong, productive cough
- Inability to speak or make any sound (Correct answer)
- Mild throat clearing
Correct answer: Inability to speak or make any sound
Inability to speak, cry, or make any sound indicates a complete airway obstruction requiring immediate intervention.
Question 2: When delivering abdominal thrusts to a standing adult, your fist should be positioned:
- Below the navel and above the pubic bone
- Just above the navel and well below the xiphoid process (Correct answer)
- On the lower half of the sternum
- On the upper chest between the nipples
Correct answer: Just above the navel and well below the xiphoid process
Proper fist placement is just above the navel and well below the tip of the xiphoid process to avoid injury to internal organs.
Question 3: An obese patient is choking and you cannot wrap your arms around the abdomen effectively. You should:
- Attempt abdominal thrusts from behind anyway
- Perform chest thrusts instead (Correct answer)
- Have the patient lie down and perform CPR
- Only do back blows
Correct answer: Perform chest thrusts instead
Chest thrusts are the recommended alternative for patients whose girth prevents effective abdominal thrusts.
Question 4: After successfully dislodging an object with the Heimlich maneuver, you should:
- Send the patient home immediately if they feel fine
- Recommend the patient be evaluated by medical personnel (Correct answer)
- Administer supplemental oxygen and discharge
- Resume normal activity since the airway is clear
Correct answer: Recommend the patient be evaluated by medical personnel
Even after successful relief, the patient should be evaluated by medical personnel because abdominal thrusts can cause internal injuries.
Question 5: During CPR on an unresponsive choking victim, when should you look for the foreign object?
- Before every compression cycle
- Only before attempting rescue breaths
- Each time you open the airway to give breaths (Correct answer)
- Never — proceed directly to compressions without checking
Correct answer: Each time you open the airway to give breaths
Each time you open the airway to give breaths, look for the object and remove it only if you can see it clearly.
Question 6: A child is choking and loses consciousness in your arms. You lower her to the ground. What do you do FIRST?
- Call 911 or have a bystander call (Correct answer)
- Begin 30 chest compressions
- Perform 5 abdominal thrusts
- Attempt 2 rescue breaths immediately
Correct answer: Call 911 or have a bystander call
Activating EMS (calling 911) should occur simultaneously with or immediately before beginning CPR when a child becomes unresponsive.
Question 7: The 'universal sign' of choking is:
- Pointing to the throat with one finger
- Clutching the throat with one or both hands (Correct answer)
- Placing a hand over the mouth
- Waving both arms overhead
Correct answer: Clutching the throat with one or both hands
Clutching the throat with one or both hands is the universally recognized distress signal for choking.
BLS Choking 3
Which sign best indicates a SEVERE (complete) airway obstruction in an adult?