Hello air clinicians and steemians 🤓 It is First Aid Friday,Where we learn quick steps to saving lives before they are referred to a health expert.
We talked about Epistaxis last week and we are going to be talking about Choking this week

WHAT IS CHOKING?
Choking occurs when a foreign object lodges in the upper airway ( throat or windpipe) blocking the flow of air. Choking can be caused by a piece of food or other foreign objects resulting in discomfort.
Children are most times choked with food,crayons or tiny toys.
In adults choking can be caused by food, a disease condition or passage of air through the wrong pathway.

CATEGORIES OF CHOKING

Partial obstruction

This is where the airway is not completely blocked. The patient is able to cough strongly enough to expel the object on their own.
Source

Complete obstruction

This is where there is no air going in and out and patient is unable to breath and unable to cough.

CAUSES OF CHOKING

1.Allergies

2.food

3.Drowning

4.Inhaled substances

5.Swallowed objects

SIGNS OF CHOKING

The basic sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat but If the person doesn't give this signal, look for these indications:

Source

1.Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing.

2.Inability to talk.

3.whistling sounds when trying to breathe.

4.Persistent Cough.

5.Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky.

6.Loss of consciousness.

FIRST AID FOR CHOKING

The basic method to cub choking is through Abdominal thrust also called Heimlich manoeuvre,but before you use Heimlich manoeuvre try giving the patient five back blows.

Heimlich manoeuvre

Heimlich manoeuvre is an emergency treatment for obstruction of the airway in adults. It may be needed when someone chokes on a piece of food that has "gone down the wrong way.

What to know about Heimlich manoeuvre

The Heimlich uses abdominal thrusts to place pressure on the diaphragm simulating a coughing reflex in the choking victim to help expel the object.

Steps

1.To perform the Heimlich maneuver stand behind the victim and wrap your arms around their abdomen.

2.Create a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the victim’s stomach above the belly button but below the rib cage.

3.Place your other hand over the fist and thrust inward, hard and fast, until the victim begins breathing or becomes unconscious

If the person becomes unconscious, perform standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with chest compressions and rescue breath.

4. Seek medical attention if choking reoccurs within few minutes after first Aid.

If you are alone and choking perform Heimlich manoeuvre,although you'll be unable to effectively deliver back blows to yourself, you can still perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item.

1.Place a fist slightly above your navel.

2.Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface — a countertop or chair will do.

3.Shove your fist inward and upward.

4 .Seek medical attention

It is important to note that Heimlich maneuver can be applied to any person or child who is unable to stand. For children, you should kneel down to perform abdominal thrusts.

Seek medical attention from a health expert and avoid self medication!

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