The first aid for suffocation involves quickly assessing the situation, calling for emergency help (ambulance), and administering back blows and abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) until the obstruction is cleared or professional help arrives.
Steps to Take When Someone is Suffocating:
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Assess the situation: Determine if the person is truly choking. Look for signs such as:
- Inability to speak or cough
- Grasping at the throat (universal choking sign)
- Bluish skin color (cyanosis)
- Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
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Call for Emergency Help: Immediately call emergency services (e.g., 911 in the US) or ask someone else to do so. Time is critical.
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Back Blows (Conscious Adult or Child):
- Stand slightly behind the person and to one side.
- Support their chest with one hand.
- Lean the person forward so the object obstructing their airway is more likely to come out rather than go further down.
- Give up to five firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand.
- Check to see if the obstruction has cleared after each blow.
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Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver) - Conscious Adult or Child over one year old: If back blows are unsuccessful:
- Stand behind the person.
- Wrap your arms around their waist.
- Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the person's abdomen, slightly above the navel and below the rib cage.
- Grasp your fist with your other hand.
- Give a quick, upward thrust into the abdomen.
- Repeat until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.
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Infant (Under One Year Old): If the infant is choking:
- Back Blows: Hold the infant face down along your forearm, supporting their jaw and chest. Give five firm back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
- Chest Thrusts: Turn the infant face up, supporting their head and neck. Place two fingers in the center of the infant's chest, just below the nipple line. Give five quick chest thrusts, compressing the chest about 1.5 inches (4 cm).
- Alternate between back blows and chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the infant becomes unconscious.
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Unconscious Person:
- Carefully lower the person to the ground.
- Call for emergency help if not already done.
- Begin CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), starting with chest compressions.
- Each time you open the airway to give breaths, look for the obstructing object. If you see it, try to remove it. Do not perform a blind finger sweep.
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Continue First Aid: Keep repeating back blows and abdominal thrusts (or back blows and chest thrusts for infants) until emergency services arrive, the obstruction is cleared, or the person becomes unconscious.
Important Considerations:
- If the person is coughing forcefully, encourage them to continue coughing, as this is the most effective way to clear the airway. Only intervene if they are unable to cough effectively.
- If the person is pregnant or obese, perform chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts. Wrap your arms around their chest and give sharp thrusts inward.
- Always seek medical attention after a choking incident, even if the object is dislodged. There may be internal injuries that need to be evaluated.
By quickly recognizing the signs of suffocation and performing the appropriate first aid techniques, you can significantly improve the chances of a positive outcome.
