Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

3 Airway and Breathing

• Give up to five brisk abdominal thrusts, forcibly pressing inwards and upwards. Do not press the ribs. Each thrust should be given with the intention of dislodging the obstruction. • Continue alternating back blows and thrusts until the obstruction is cleared or the patient becomes unconscious. • If a patient in a wheelchair loses consciousness, then they must be taken out of the wheelchair to perform CPR. • Undo any belts holding the patient to the wheelchair. There may be belts at leg, waist, and chest height. • Ensure you have a firm grip on the patient by their clothing, specifically at the belt level of their pants.

• Lean the patient forward and slide them out of the chair towards you by grasping their belt or waist band of their pants. Protect the head and neck while lowering them to the floor in a face up position.

Back Blows for a patient in a wheelchair

105

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