TINDWA MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
P.O. Box 31409 Dar Es Salaam
Mob: +255(0)715/782-515036
Tel: +255 222 780075 Fax: +255 222 780071
Website: www.tmhstz.com
E-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
Emergency Medical Services, Health Education, Occupational Health and Safety and Researches
CHOKING
Choking is the situation where by airway gets blocked and you can’t breathe properly. When
someone chokes, the airway can either be partly or fully blocked. If it’s a mild blockage, they
should be able to clear it themselves by coughing. If it’s a severe blockage, they won’t be able to
cough so without anyone’s help they’ll lose consciousness.
But if they do lose consciousness, their throat muscles could relax and open the airway enough
for you to give rescue breaths ‒ be prepared to give rescue breaths and chest compression.
SIGNS AND SYMTOMS OF CHOKING
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Coughing or gagging
Hand signals and panic (sometimes pointing to the throat)
Sudden inability to talk
Clutching the throat: The natural response to choking is to grab the throat with one or both
hands. This is the universal choking sign and a way of telling people around you that you are
choking.
Wheezing
Passing out
Turning blue: Cyanosis, a blue coloring to the skin, can be seen earliest around the face, lips,
and fingernail beds. You may see this, but other critical choking signs would appear first.
If an infant is choking, more attention must be paid to an infant's behavior. They cannot be
taught the universal choking sign.
Difficulty breathing
Weak cry, weak cough, or both
Prevention
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Don't give young children hard foods or small objects that are likely to become lodged in their
airways eg nuts, seeds, gum, hard candy, peas etc
Cut foods such as hot dogs, sausages, and grapes into small pieces before serving them to
young children.
Choking on a rubber balloon is the leading cause of choking death in children who choke on
objects other than food. Clean up right after parties.
Store small objects, such as buttons and batteries, out of a child's reach.
Do not allow children to play sports with food or gum in their mouths.
Tell babysitters and older brothers and sisters what foods and objects should not be given to
young children.
Instruct children to chew their food thoroughly before swallowing.
Avoid placing objects such as nails or pins in your mouth for quick access.
Take small bites and chew food thoroughly.
“Prepared by Thomas Afizai Asst. Paramedic coordinator Tindwa medic and health services”
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Be aware that alcohol may impair your ability to chew and swallow, and increase your risk of
choking. The lack of oxygen caused by choking can result in brain damage or death in four to
six minutes. Unless immediate action is taken to open a completely obstructed airway, the
chances for survival and complete recovery decrease rapidly. If the object can be removed
quickly and breathing returns to normal, recovery should be complete.
If the Person Is Conscious but Not Able to Breathe or Talk:
1. Give Back Blows
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Give up to 5 blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
2. If Person Is Still Choking, Do Thrusts
If the person is not pregnant or too obese do abdominal thrusts:
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Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around the waist.
Place your clenched fist just above the person’s navel. Grab your fist with your other hand.
Quickly pull inward and upward as if trying to lift the person up.
Perform a total of 5 abdominal thrusts.
If the blockage is still not dislodged, continue cycles of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal
thrusts until the object is coughed up or the person starts to breathe or cough.
Take the object out of his mouth only if you can see it. Never do a finger sweep unless you
can see the object in the person's mouth.
If the person is obese or pregnant, do high abdominal thrusts:
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Stand behind the person, wrap your arms them, and position your hands at the base of the
breast bone.
Quickly pull inward and upward.
Repeat until the object is dislodged.
3. Give CPR, if Necessary
If the obstruction comes out, but the person is not breathing or if the person becomes
unconscious:
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For a child, start CPR for child.
For an adult, start CPR for adults.
4. Follow Up
When emergency medical personnel arrive, they will take over and may do CPR or take the
person to the hospital, if needed
“Prepared by Thomas Afizai Asst. Paramedic coordinator Tindwa medic and health services”