What is choking?
Choking is a blockage of the airway/windpipe in the throat when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat results in the shortage of breath. Often the reason may be a piece of food.
First Aid on Choking Victim
1. If its mild choking encourages the person to keep coughing & clear the blockage.
2. Ask the person to spit out the object if it’s there in the mouth.
3. Give up to 5 sharp back blows between the shoulder blades.
4. If back blows don’t work, then give up to Chest thrusts, by wrapping both the arms up to chest level.
5. Continue by altering back blows & chest thrusts & keep checking their breath.
6. Never use a finger to remove the object or sweep unless you can see the object in the person’s mouth.
7. If the person is unconscious, or if it’s serious choking and in the case of medical emergency call VMEDO helpline 9343-180000
Causes of Choking
1. Chewing food incompletely or attempting to eat large pieces of food is one of the main cause of choking in children.
2. Near drowning which is almost dying from suffocating under water.
3. Walking, playing or running with food or objects in the mouth is also the reason for choking.
Choking Symptoms
1. Inability or Struggling to breathe or talk.
2. Coughing & wheezing.
3. Hand signals and panic (sometimes pointing to the throat).
4. A cough forcibly.
5. Turning of lips, nose tip to bluish purple tinge color.
Prevention of Choking
1. Avoid giving hard foods & small objects to young children. This includes gum, nuts, peas, and tough meats.
2. Always chew food thoroughly recommend the same to your children.
3. Alcohol consumption may impair your mental ability, which may increase your risk of choking. So avoid drinking alcohol before eating.
4. Avoid pieces of raw carrot, chunks of apple or celery sticks.
5. Look for age guidelines while selecting the toys.
6. Try to keep choking hazards away from young children & babies.
7. Avoid giving choking hazard foods.
8. Cut the large food items into small pieces before serving young & infants.
Also Read: How to perform CPR on adults and kids?
Frequently Asking Questions about choking
1. What is choking?
Choking is a blockage of the airway/windpipe in the throat when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat results in the shortage of breath. Often the reason may be a piece of food.
2. Is Choking is dangerous?
Choking is one of the leading cause of death for infants under 3 years of age. It is one of the unintentional death of infants.
3. What are some common choking hazards?
Some common hazards include,
1. Food – nuts, seeds, popcorns, whole grapes, gummy candy, chunks of peanut butter, raisins etc.
2. Miscellaneous items – coins, toys & its small parts, marbles, balloons, buttons, pieces of pet food, magnets, pen or marker caps etc.
4. How to prevent Choking?
1. Avoid giving hard foods & small objects to young children. This includes gum, nuts, peas, and tough meats.
2. Always chew food thoroughly recommend the same to your children.
3. Alcohol consumption may impair your mental ability. So avoid drinking alcohol before eating.
4. Avoid pieces of raw carrot, chunks of apple or celery sticks.
5. Look for age guidelines while selecting the toys.
6. Try to keep choking hazards away from young children & babies.
7. Avoid giving choking hazard foods.
8. Cut the large food items into small pieces before serving young & infants.
9. Regularly check under sofas and in between the cushions, tables, and carpets for hazardous items.
10. Pick age-appropriate toys for your child & Store all toys in a container after playtime.
5. What are the symptoms of choking?
1. Inability or Struggling to breathe or talk.
2. Coughing & wheezing.
3. Hand signals and panic (sometimes pointing to the throat).
4. A cough forcibly.
5. Turning of lips, nose tip to bluish purple tinge color.
6. Inability to cry or to make much sound.
7. Unconsciousness or unresponsive.
6. What should I do if someone is choking?
Here are a few steps to rescue someone from choking.
1. If its mild choking encourages the person to keep coughing & clear the blockage.
2. Ask the person to spit out the object if it’s there in the mouth.
3. Give up sharp back blows between the shoulder blades.
4. If back blows don’t work, then give up to Chest thrusts, by wrapping both the arms up to chest level.
5. Continue by altering back blows & chest thrusts & keep checking their breath.
6. Never use a finger to remove the object or sweep unless you can see the object in the person’s mouth.
7. If the person is unconscious, or in the case of medical emergency call Blood for sure helpline 9343-180000.
7. What should I do if a baby is choking?
Choking is the common problem for adults and it’s one of the serious cause of death in babies and infants.
Here are a few steps that help to save a baby from choking.
1. If the baby is able to cough, encourage her to carry on doing which help to clear the object.
2. If the baby is unconscious, distressed and unable to cry, cough or breathe, back blows may help.
This can be done as follows:
1. Lie the baby face down across your lap, with its head lower than its Chest & legs.
2. Support the baby’s head from underneath with your forearm. And make sure their airway is open.
3. Never press the soft skin under the lower jaw.
4. Give firm slaps to the baby’s back between the shoulder blades.
5. Pause between each blow to see if the blockage has cleared.
6. Never use a finger to remove the object from the baby’s mouth unless you can see the object.
If the child is still unconscious and can’t breathe call VMEDO Ambulance 09343180000 immediately.
For any medical emergency including Ambulance service, blood requirement, First aid tips call for VMEDO helpline 9343-180000
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