Step to be followed for small children
1. Child is playced on firm surface. With rescuer kneeling at chlid's feet, abdominal thrusts are performed with heel of one hand in midline between navel and rib cage and second hand on top of first and pressed into abdomen with upward thrust. Six to ten abdominal thrusts are performed until the foreign body is expelled.
2. If obstruction is not relieved, tongue-jaw lift is performed and mouth is examined for foreign body. Visualized foreign body may be removed by finger sweep.
3. If no spontaneous breathing occurs, ventilation is attemted with two breaths by mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose technique.
4. Step 1 to 3 are repeated as needed.
Steps to be fllowed for older children
1. Treat as an adult, with abdominal thrusts performed in standing, sitting or supine position.
Symptoms and Signs
1. General symptoms and signs of asphyxia.
2. Casualty will be unable to speak or breathe and may be gripping the throat. The most remarkable features is thar he or she will be completely slient.
3. Congestion of the face and neck with the veins becoming prominent, blueness of the lips and mouth.
4. Possible unconsciousness.
First Aid in Choking
In case of con scious casualty (Fig. 15.2):
1. Position yourself behind the casualty.
2. Bend the casualty forward and give slaps between the shoulder blade.
3. If the above fails, hold the casualty from the middle of the abdomen making a fist with one hand and holding it with the other.
4. Give rapid and upward push.
5. Continue pushing in this manner till the obstruction is cleared.
6. Do not give force if the casualty becomes unconscious
Abdominal Thrusts
1. Giving abdominal thrusts to a choking victim can dislodge the foreign body from the airway.
2. To give abdominal thrusts ro a choking victim who is sitting or standing position yourself behind the victim.
3. Place your arms around the victim's waist and form a fist with one hand. Place the thumb side of the fist with the knuckles up against the victim's abdomen, slightly above the navel.
4. With your other hand, grasp and hold your fist, then give up to five quick upward and unward thrusts to the victim's abdomen.
5. If the victim is sitting in a chair, you probably will have to turn the victim, since reaching around the victim and the back of the chair usually is not practical.
6. To give abdominal thrusts to a victim who is lying down, kneel and straddle the victim's thighs