Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

3 Airway and Breathing

Choking Self Help – First Aid

For chest thrusts, make a fist with one hand and place it thumb side against the lower half of the breastbone. Cover it with your other hand. Give brisk abdominal thrusts, forcibly pressing inwards and upwards. Do not press the ribs. Each abdominal thrust should be given with the intention of dislodging the obstruction. An alternate method of giving yourself abdominal thrusts is to use an object such as the back of a chair, the edge of a counter or a table. Position yourself so the object is across your abdomen, above your hips, and below your ribs. Thrust yourself sharply and forcibly against the object to produce an abdominal thrust. Do not press the hips or ribs. Each thrust should be given with the intention of dislodging the obstruction.

If you begin to choke, do not panic. Get help. Get the attention of other people. Indicate you are choking – grab your throat with both hands. You still have a partial airway if you can speak, so breathe and cough forcibly. Continue to cough until the obstruction clears. If it does not clear after several minutes, then seek medical help. If you have a complete airway obstruction, then you can give yourself abdominal or chest thrusts if there is no one to help you. Continue thrusts until you can speak, breathe, or cough forcibly. Activate 911 if possible. For abdominal thrusts, place a fist on the midline of your abdomen but below the rib cage. Cover it with your other hand.

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