Choking and Airway Emergencies Flashcards

You are at a restaurant when you see a person at a nearby table stand up suddenly, clutching their throat with both hands. They have a panicked look and are unable to speak or cough. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Answer: Ask them "Are you choking?" and if they nod, perform abdominal thrusts.

The person is displaying the universal sign of severe choking and is unable to cough or speak. The correct first aid response is to confirm they are choking and then deliver abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) to dislodge the object. Chest compressions are for an unresponsive person, encouraging coughing is for a mild obstruction, and giving water is ineffective and potentially harmful.

Which of the following describes the correct first aid procedure for a responsive infant (under 1 year old) who is choking?

Answer: Hold the infant face down on your forearm and deliver 5 back blows, then turn them over and deliver 5 chest thrusts.

For a conscious choking infant, the recommended procedure is a cycle of 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts. Abdominal thrusts are not recommended for infants due to the risk of internal injury. Blind finger sweeps are dangerous as they can push the object further down the airway.

You are performing abdominal thrusts on a conscious adult who is choking. The person suddenly goes limp and becomes unresponsive. What is your immediate next step after carefully lowering them to the ground?

Answer: Immediately begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.

Once a choking victim becomes unresponsive, you should immediately start CPR, beginning with chest compressions. As part of the CPR sequence, before giving breaths, you will look in the mouth for the object and remove it only if it is visible. You do not delay starting compressions to check for a pulse in this specific scenario.

A person appears to be choking but is able to cough forcefully and speak in short phrases. What is the most appropriate response?

Answer: Encourage them to keep coughing and stay with them.

This person is experiencing a mild airway obstruction, as indicated by their ability to cough forcefully and move some air. The most effective way to clear a mild obstruction is for the person to cough it out themselves. Your role is to encourage them and monitor them closely in case the obstruction becomes severe. Intervening with back blows or abdominal thrusts is not indicated for a mild obstruction.

You are providing first aid to a visibly pregnant woman in her third trimester who is experiencing a severe airway obstruction. How should you modify your technique for giving thrusts?

Answer: Place your hands around the center of the chest and perform chest thrusts.

For individuals who are pregnant or very large, where you cannot effectively get your arms around their abdomen, the recommended procedure is to perform chest thrusts. The hand placement is on the breastbone, similar to CPR chest compressions.

While providing care to a choking adult, they become unresponsive. You lower them to the floor and start CPR. After the first set of 30 compressions, you open the airway to give breaths. What is a critical step you should take at this moment?

Answer: Quickly look in the mouth for a visible object before giving breaths.

When a choking person becomes unresponsive and you begin CPR, a key modification is to look inside the person's mouth for the object each time you open the airway to give breaths. If you see an object that can be easily removed, you should do so. A blind finger sweep is not recommended as it may push the object deeper.