What first aid method should be used for choking?
Oct 07, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Haiming
Introduction
If an infant or young child is choking, press with the middle and index fingers on the midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples, and continue until the foreign object is expelled. If an adult is choking, grasp your fist with one hand and apply quick, forceful upward thrusts toward the back of the chest until the object is expelled. Alternatively, use both hands to push upward on the area between the xiphoid process and the abdomen to relieve the obstruction. You may also use a cupped hand to repeatedly slap the back between the shoulder blades, which can help dislodge the object.
When someone is choking, first-aid methods such as the Heimlich maneuver, abdominal thrusts, and back blows can generally be used.
1. Heimlich Maneuver
If an infant has accidentally choked, place the infant face-up with the head lower than the feet. If a foreign object is visible, use the index and middle fingers to press repeatedly on the center point of the line connecting the two nipples until the object is expelled. For adults, the person should stand upright. The rescuer stands behind the patient, wraps their arms around the patient's chest, makes a fist with one hand and places it on the lower half of the sternum, then uses the other hand to grasp the fist and applies firm, quick upward thrusts toward the chest until the object is expelled.
2. Abdominal Thrusts
The patient should lie flat on their back. The rescuer uses both hands to push upward on the area between the xiphoid process and the abdomen, helping to increase intra-abdominal pressure and expel the foreign object.
3. Back Blows
The patient should bend forward at the waist with the neck extended. The rescuer uses a cupped hand to deliver repeated blows to the middle of the back between the shoulder blades, which helps dislodge the object.
