Every year, millions of people around the world face the silent, life-threatening dangers that hide in everyday moments we take for granted. It strikes quickly without warning, and sometimes it can snatch away the vital breath we need to survive. We are talking about choking, a dangerous emergency that requires immediate action to prevent a tragedy. Recognizing the signs of choking is essential for first responders and anyone who wishes to be a hero when it matters most.
Choking is caused by something blocking the upper airway that prevents a person from breathing effectively. In most cases, choking leads to a coughing fit, but if the choking person’s airway is completely blocked, it can be a leading cause of death. There are 3 signs of choking a bystander may notice.
When someone is showing signs of choking, as a bystander, you should provide immediate medical attention. There is a chance that an emergency team will not arrive on time. Choking is something that can happen to anyone. Do you know the causes of choking?
What is a Choking Hazard?
In our crusade to uncover the three key signs of choking, we can’t ignore the invisible threats that stalk our everyday environment. A choking hazard is like a silent assassin just waiting for an opportunity to put us in a breathtaking, life-threatening emergency. Before we tackle the signs of choking, let’s unmask how innocent everyday small objects can turn into potential dangers. Here is a list of unseen hazards that can turn moments of joy into nightmares:
- Tiny Terrors: Diminutive Dangers, Massive Risks
While many believe small things pack a punch, the choking hazard world proves otherwise. From the unassuming button that frees from fabric to the minuscule batteries that power our tech, these tiny terrors can quickly turn into a trap of suffocation.
- Food Fiascos: Gastronomic Delights Turned Choking Hazards
The satisfaction of relishing a delectable meal is unparalleled. But did you know that some of our favourite culinary delights can swiftly transform into choking hazards? From crispy nuts to succulent grapes, from the ubiquitous hot dogs to the beloved peanut butter, the dining table harbours hidden dangers that can convert a meal into a life-threatening event.
- Playtime Pitfalls: Childhood Innocence Lost in Toy Troubles
Toys radiate joy, capture the imagination and weave memories that last a lifetime. However, within the domain of playtime, dangers lurk in the shadows. From the removable parts of dolls to the irresistible allure of magnets, the world of toys masks choking risks that can shatter childhood innocence.
- Enigmatic Endangers: Surprising Traps that Pose a Threat
Choking hazards can sprout from the most unexpected sources. Everyday objects we take for granted can metamorphose into culprits when we least expect them to. Who knew that a pen cap, a rubber band, or even a stray coin could silently transform into an obstruction that could take away a life?
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Causes of Choking
There are two openings at the back of the mouth. The first is the esophagus (food pipe) – the pathway that takes food to the stomach. The trachea is the second opening that takes the air we breathe to our lungs. The trachea has a flap called the epiglottis to prevent food from entering our lungs.
Our trachea branches out into two, because air needs to reach both the left and right lungs. These branches get narrower as they approach our lungs, and objects can get stuck where the airways narrow. Larger objects can also get stuck higher up in the trachea, near the vocal cords.
In adults, choking can be caused when the swallowing mechanism is slowed down by medications taken for certain illnesses (e.g., Parkinson’s), by old age, or by alcohol consumption. Usually, choking is caused by carelessness, including eating in a hurry, not chewing properly, and eating while talking or laughing.
Not only can someone choke on a foreign object (mechanical obstruction). People can also choke due to swelling of the throat, mouth or tongue (anatomical obstruction).
Choking can be caused by a variety of things from what we eat and how we eat it to allergic reactions. It is important to keep choking hazards away from small children and infants such as coins, marbles, hard candy, etc. If a person starts to choke, they will show clear signs of choking.
Types of Choking
In the sphere of choking emergencies, understanding the difference between partial choking and complete choking can be the difference between life and death. In a choking crisis, there are two types of choking a person may experience that demand unique responses. One is called partial choking, while the other is called complete choking. Do you know how to recognize choking and how to act in each situation? Following are the steps to ensure safety and well-being in these emergencies.
Partial Choking
Partial Choking: Breathing Under Pressure
When someone undergoes partial choking, their airway undergoes partial blockage, resulting in difficulty breathing, also known as partial airway obstruction. If the person is coughing, the air still passes through the obstruction, so they can still breathe. This precarious situation requires immediate action. Ask the person to cough forcefully to dislodge the blockage and help clear the airway. Stick around, monitoring their condition until their breathing normalizes. However, if the choking person cannot cough forcefully or stop, summoning immediate medical assistance is crucial by dialling 911.
Complete Choking
Complete Choking: A Fight for Life
Suffocating presents a far more dangerous scenario, where the person’s airway undergoes complete blockage, cutting off their breathing ability. In other words, complete choking means the person’s airway is completely blocked. It is a life-threatening emergency and must be treated immediately. As soon as you spot the signs of suffocation, initiate first aid procedures without delay. At the same time, recruit the help of a bystander to call a local emergency number or 911. Utilize two crucial techniques, alternating between back blows, abdominal thrusts, or chest thrusts, to dislodge the obstruction and restore the airflow. Every second counts in this race against time; immediate intervention is paramount to preserving the person’s life.
Symptoms and Signs of Choking
In infants:
Because infants cannot indicate they are choking, parents and childminders need to look out for difficulty in breathing, a weak cry, or a cough – infant choking can sometimes be both. The child’s lips and/or skin could also turn blue. Children older than a year are usually able to indicate they are choking by holding their necks. Child choking can be recognized easier than infant choking.
In adults:
Adults can show bystanders they are choking. Usually, the first signs of choking include coughing, gagging or hand signals that mean something is wrong. Their face will turn red, their eyes become watery and they will have panicked or distressed behavior. Some other signs of adult choking include the sudden inability to talk, clutching the throat with both hands, or wheezing. Finally, if the person has passed out or is turning blue (cyanosis), then these are critical choking signs.
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How to save a choking person?
After noticing the signs of choking, it is critical to understand how to save that person. Everyone should familiarize themselves with the recommendations for clearing an obstruction so they can be prepared if they ever need to save a life.
Saving an infant from choking
In a baby that is unable to make high-pitched noises or cough, an adult can assist to dislodge the object. This is always done in a seated or kneeling position. The infant is placed face down on your forearm. Support the head with your hand and place the head lower than the rest of their body.
Use the heel of your hand to thump the baby five times in the middle of the back. If the item has not dislodged, and the baby is not breathing, turn them face up.
The head must once again be lower than the trunk. Place two fingers on the center of the child’s breastbone and give five fast compressions, pressing approximately ⅓ of the chest depth down. Look in the child’s mouth for an object. Let the chest rise between each compression. Repeat these two steps until the baby becomes unresponsive or begins to cry, cough, breathe or cough up the object. Do not put your finger into the child’s mouth to remove the object. Your finger could push the object deeper into the child’s throat.
If the baby becomes unresponsive, ask someone to call for help before starting CPR. Only stop when the baby can move or help has arrived.
If you are alone, start with CPR. After 2 minutes, call for help before continuing.
Saving an adult from choking
If you are choking in a room with others, do not leave the room. If you do, there is a higher chance that no one will realize what is happening. Try getting the attention of someone. Remain calm and try to breathe, cough, swallow, or say a few words.
One of the most common signs of choking, also known as the Universal Sign of Distress, is to raise your hands to your neck and to use hand gestures to indicate what is happening. Once someone comes to your assistance, cooperate with them.
As the bystander, ask the person to try to cough forcefully first. If that does not work and the person is completely choking, you must provide first aid. Saving an adult from choking requires you to stand behind them and perform abdominal thrusts and/or back blows to dislodge the object. This could be back blows, abdominal thrusts or chest thrusts. Choose two and continue alternating between each until the person becomes unresponsive or begins to breathe/the object dislodges.
Saving a pregnant woman or a larger choking adult
Saving a pregnant or large adult from choking requires special care and consideration due to their unique physical characteristics. Although some of the steps are similar to the previous cases, remember that you should always;
- Assess the situation: Be agile in evaluating the severity of the emergency and type of choking, partial or complete.
- Encourage coughing: As mentioned before, the best way to clear a blocked airway is to encourage the individual to cough forcefully. If they can do it, there’s still some air movement. Always stay by their side to provide reassurance.
Call for Emergency Medical Care: If the person cannot do it forcefully, or if it becomes ineffective at some point, call 911 immediately.
- Perform Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver): Stand behind the person, placing your arms around their waist, leaning the person forward slightly. Place a fist slightly above the person’s navel. Grasp your fist with the other hand. Apply inward and upward pressure with quick, firm thrusts to the abdomen. Be cautious and adjust your technique to accommodate the person’s size and condition.
- Modify the technique for pregnant individuals: Place your hands higher on the person’s chest, just below the breastbone, when performing abdominal thrusts on pregnant persons. This helps avoid putting excessive pressure on the abdomen, which could potentially harm the fetus. Continue with upward thrusts until the obstruction is expelled or until emergency help arrives.
It is important to point out that when the object comes out, and the individual is risk-free, still, as a first responder, encourage the person to get medical assistance for examination and to ensure their well-being.
Saving yourself from choking
If you are choking and are all alone, call your local emergency number immediately. See if there is anyone around who may notice you. Start to perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item. Find a safe object, such as the back of a chair, and forcefully push your abdomen into it.
How to Handle Unresponsive Choking?
To tackle an unresponsive choking situation, swift and decisive action is crucial to save a life. Here are some essential steps that you can follow as a first responder to save a life in a dangerous choking emergency:
- Call for Emergency Medical Care: Without delay, dial the emergency services number on your phone to call for professional help. Communicate the gravity of the situation and that the individual is unresponsive and choking. Meanwhile, do not leave the choking person alone.
- Lower the Person to the Ground: Gently lay the person to the ground on their back while supporting their head and neck. Confirm that their airway is clear and unobstructed.
- Open the Airway: Slightly tilt the person’s head back, placing one hand on their forehead and lifting their chin with two fingers of your hand. This straightens the airway and expands it for breathing.
- Check for Breathing: Lean closer, examining the person’s chest for any signs of breathing. Listen for breath sounds and feel for any airflow on your cheek. Do not spend more than 10 seconds in this process; if the person is not breathing or only gasping, they need immediate CPR.
- Initiate CPR: When the person is unresponsive and not breathing, immediately start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Place the heel of one hand at the center of the chest, slightly above the lower half of the sternum. Put your other hand on top of the first, interlocking your fingers. Keep your arms straight and position your shoulders directly over your hands. Execute chest compressions by pressing down firmly and swiftly at about 100-120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to recoil fully between compressions.
- Search for the Object: After 30 compressions, uncover the person’s mouth and carefully search for any visible blockages. If you spot the object causing the choking, try a gentle sweep with your fingers to remove it. Avoid blind finger sweeps or forceful maneuvers that could push the obstruction deeper.
- Resume CPR: If the obstruction is not visible or cannot be easily removed, resume chest compressions immediately after the brief search to treat choking.
- Repeat the Cycles: Keep repeating cycles of 30 chest compressions, followed by checking the airway and attempting to remove any visible obstructions until professional help arrives or the person starts breathing normally.
As a first responder, you must receive proper training in CPR and choking first aid techniques to ensure you can respond effectively during an emergency.
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How to Prevent Choking?
Although choking may happen out of the blue, we can significantly reduce the risk and protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm with some knowledge and a few preventive measures. Here are some valuable tips to reduce the risk of choking.
In adults:
- Chew food thoroughly before swallowing
- Take your time to eat calmly
- Avoid doing physical activities (talking, laughing, walking) while chewing
In children and babies:
- If your baby starts eating solid foods, purees are an excellent place to start
- Always supervise children and babies when they eat
- Teach children to eat calmly, chew well and don’t speak while eating
- Encourage children to sit down during meals
- Keep small objects out of the reach of infants and children. Be aware of soft plastic parts and rubbers.
How First Aid and CPR/AED Training Courses Prepare you for Choking
Understanding how to help a victim of choking can be intimidating as it happens so quickly. By enrolling in a First Aid and CPR/AED training course, you can prepare yourself for any incident. Students will learn how to assist infant choking, child choking and adult choking. Be prepared in choking first aid and feel confident while helping someone in need. Who knows, the choking victim may be a bystander or someone that you love.
If you are ready to understand how to recognize choking, register for a First Aid and CPR/AED training course today. Coast2Coast offers many courses throughout Ontario. Contact us today to learn choking rescue and provide help in life threatening situation!
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