RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS
CHOKING ADULT | CHOKING CHILD
CHOKING ADULT
CAUTION
If at any stage the casualty becomes unresponsive, open the airway and check breathing (p.63). If she is not breathing, begin CPR (pp.66-69) to try to relieve the obstruction.
RECOGNITION
Ask the casualty: "Are you choking?"
NV\\d obstruction',
■ Casualty able to speak, cough and breathe
Severe obstruction:
■ Casualty unable to speak, cough or breathe, and eventually becomes unresponsive
■ To remove the obstruction
■ To arrange urgent removal to hospital if necessary
A foreign object that is stuck in the throat may block it and cause muscular spasm. If blockage of the airway is mild, the casualty should be able to clear it; if it is severe, she will be unable to speak, cough or breathe, and will eventually become unresponsive. If she is unresponsive the throat muscles may relax and the airway may open enough to do rescue breathing. Be prepared to begin rescue breaths and chest compressions.
WHAT TO DO
.    If the casualty is breathing,
encourage her to continue coughing. Remove arty obvious obstruction from the mouth.
If the casualty cannot speak
or stops coughing or breathing, carry out back blows. Support her upper body with one hand, and help her to lean well forward. Give up to five sharp blows between her shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Stop if the obstruction clears. Check her mouth.
^   If back blows fail to clear the
obstruction, try abdominal thrusts. Stand behind the casualty and put both arms around the upper part of her abdomen. Make sure that she is still bending well forwards. Clench your fist and place it between the navel and the bottom of her breastbone. Grasp your fist firmly with your other hand. Pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times.
^   Check her mouth. If the obstruction has not i cleared, call 999/112 for emergency help.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 -rechecking the mouth after each step - until help arrives or the casualty hprnmps i inrpsnnnsivo t
CHOKING CHILD ONE YEAR TO PUBERTY
Young children especially are prone to choking. A child may choke on food, or may put small objects into her mouth and cause a blockage of the airway.
If a child is choking, you need to act quickly. If she becomes unresponsive, the throat muscles may relax and the airway may open enough to do rescue breathing. Be prepared to begin rescue breaths and chest compressions.
WHAT TO DO
If the child is breathing, encourage her to cough;
this may clear the obstruction.
Remove any obvious obstruction
from her mouth.
9   If the child cannot speak, or H stops coughing or breathing, carry out back blows. Bend her well forward and give up to five Wows between her shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. Check her mouth, but do not sweep the mouth with your finger.
g   If the back blows fail, try
abdominal thrusts. Put your arms around the child's upper abdomen. Make sure that she is bending well forwards. Place your fist between the navel and the bottom of her breastbone, and grasp it with your other hand. Pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times. Stop if the obstruction clears.
Check the mouth. If the obstruction has not
cleared, call 999/112 for
emergency help.
_   Repeat steps 2 and 3 -
rechecking the mouth after each step - until help arrives or the child becomes unresponsive
fcpp CAUTION ahnv/p riohfl
CAUTION
If at any stage the child becomes unresponsive, open the airway and check breathing (p.73). If she is not breathing, begin CPR to try to relieve the obstruction (pp.76-79).
RECOGNITION
Ask the child: "Are you choking?" Mild obstruction:
■ Child able to speak, cough and breathe
Severe obstruction:
■ Child unable to speak, cough or breathe, and eventually becomes unresponsive
1 To remove the obstruction
1 To arrange urgent removal to hospital if necessary