First Aid Advice - Choking
Young children are especially prone to choking, whether on food other objects they may have picked up
If the airway is partially blocked, the casualty may be able to clear it themselves by coughing, however if it is severely blocked they will be unable to speak or breathe
Treatment - Adults and Children
- Encourage the patient to cough
- Remove any obvious obstructions from the mouth
- Give five back blows, between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand
- Between back blows, check the mouth and remove any obvious obstruction
- If the back blows fail to clear the blockage, give up to five abdominal thrusts;
Place a clenched fist above the casualty's navel, grasp your fist with your other hand and and pull inwards and upwards
Treatment - Infants & Babies
- Remove any obvious obstructions from the mouth
- Lay the patient along your arm face down, with the head lower than the body
- Give up to five back blows to the upper part of the back with the heel of your hand
- Between back blows, check the mouth and remove any obvious obstruction
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