Choking ..... hot topic for the week.

Did you happen to watch the news item on the McDonalds' staff member that saved the little girls life? The 14 month old had choked on a chip and went unconscious and stopped breathing. So many things went through my mind as I watched the footage on-line. My heart went out to those poor parents and their little cherub. I thought wow what a hero the young man and bystanders were to step in and calmly help, and also how great were the emergency personnel who were on the phone. 

The scariest thing is that this can happen so fast and at any time. A happy ending is not always guaranteed. A little first aid training can go a long way, so here is some useful information and tips.

Choking is when a foreign object blocks the airway. We need oxygen to survive and a blockage can stop the movement of air and thus oxygen in and out of our lungs. This is therefore a life threatening situation.

There are 2 types of blockages, what we call a PARTIAL obstruction and a TOTAL obstruction. The key rule of thumb is to NOT intervene if it is a partial obstruction. If the patient displays an effective cough then it is known as a partial obstruction.

PARTIAL OBSTRUCTION:

Signs and Symptoms:

- coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, blue/mottled skin, noisy breathing

Management:

- encourage the patient to cough

- stay calm and reassure patient but do not slap their back

- if wheezing or breathing difficulty then call 000

TOTAL OBSTRUCTION:

Signs and Symptoms:

- no effective cough, unable to breath/speak or cry out, agitated and gripping throat, blue/mottled skin, altered conscious state and eventual loss of consciousness

Management:

- follow DRSABCD plan and call 000

- if possible place the patient in the recovery position and attempt to clear the airway

- if the airway can not be cleared then give up to 5 back slaps 

   (using palm of hand in the middle if the back in an upwards motion)

- if no improvement then give 5 chest thrusts (compressions) 

- check after each thrust to see if the obstruction has been cleared

- if no success and the patient becomes unconscious then commence CPR

- if at any point the airway is cleared and the patient is breathing normally then place them in the recovery position and observe them closely until help arrives

For the back slaps and chest thrusts an infant or child can be placed across your lap with head downwards, rather than in recovery position as mentioned above. If your baby or child becomes unconscious at any stage then commence CPR.

Choking is one of the top concerns for any new, or not so new, parent. It is most important to understand what action to take and when. With this knowledge you will feel more confident to be able to remain calm and help anyone in this life threatening situation.

~V~