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Medical Video: How to Save a Choking Child
Choking occurs when a foreign object is stuck in the throat or esophagus so it blocks the flow of air. In adults, food pieces are often the main culprit. Children and toddlers often choke on swallowing small objects while playing.
If you are with someone who is choking, give help as soon as possible. This is very important because choking can cut oxygen intake into the brain and can endanger life.
How do I know if someone is being sucked in?
Signs commonly shown by people who are choking are the two hands that grip the throat. If the person does not show this sign, pay attention to other hazard indications, such as:
- Inability to speak
- Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing sounds
- Inability when asked to cough
- Skin, lips, and nails that are blue or blackish
- Lost consciousness
Usually, for cases of mild choking, the airway will only be partially blocked and the person can still speak (although difficult), cry, cough, or breathe.
Although most victims can handle their own food, you can also help them by positioning them slightly leaning forward (or for babies and toddlers, laying their stomach down on your thighs) and striking your wrist between the back shoulder blades (the area between the two shoulder, under the nape of the neck) the person five times with firm and steady movements.
If the person cannot breathe, cannot cough, or cannot speak, give help by pressing the abdomen firmly, also known as the Heimlich maneuver.
Heimlich maneuver for children and adults who are choking
To do this technique, you must:
1. Stand behind the person and position your body on one side of his body. If the person is in a standing position, place one of your feet between his legs so that you can support the person if he faints.
2. Circle your hands around his waist like a hugging position, clenching one hand. Position the outside of the thumb facing the person's abdomen, above the navel but not near the breastbone. See the picture below:
3. Hold your fist with your free hand. Give a jolt up into the stomach hard and fast. This movement can cause foreign objects to get stuck to jump out. You may need to use more energy for people with large body postures, and reduce energy for small adults or children (over one year old).
4. Repeat the jerk until the foreign object completely exits or until the person faints.
However, if the person who is choking is pregnant or has a large posture (overweight or obese), position your fist right at the tip of the breastbone, then do a jerk inward and upward several times until they can vomit the object .
First aid for babies less than one year old who choked
If the baby can cough or make a sound, let him cough to try to remove the object by itself. However, keep an eye on them.
If you can see the object, try removing it slowly. Do not poke direction or repeatedly with your finger, you will worsen the situation by further pushing the object into the throat, making it more difficult to remove.
If the baby cannot make a sound, cough, or cry, then you must:
1. Sit down, then lay the baby in his prone position leaning forward in your arms in such a way above your thighs, so that the position of his head will be lower than his chest.
2. Hold the baby from the front firmly using one of your palms, trying to keep the head from wilting against your thighs.
3. Use the heel of your palm to hit between the two shoulder blades of the child's shoulder five times.
4. If the foreign object does not come out, prop up the baby's head and turn it towards you while still keeping the head position lower than the chest.
5. Place 2-3 of your fingers below the nipple line and just above the breastbone, then give the chest jerks five times quickly.
6. Continue to repeat patting your back and jerking your chest, each 5 times and alternately, until the foreign object can come out completely or until the baby faints.
If the victim's airway is still obstructed after performing the above technique, or is experiencing loss of consciousness, immediately take help breathing techniques (CPR) or seek medical help.
Heimlich maneuver or CPR technique can cause serious injury. Although this first aid measure is very effective and is needed to save lives, professional health workers, such as doctors or ambulance officers, should keep the person checked for possible complications even after the victim is conscious.
