Adult Choking

How do you know when an adult is choking?

• Makes the choking sign (hands around neck)
• Cannot breath, cough, speak or make  a sound
• Has a cough with no sound

Ask, "Are you Choking"? If they say yes, tell them you are going to help them.

How do you remove the obstruction?

• Place your fist slightly above the navel with your other hand covering your fist and give abdominal thrust until the object comes out, the adult can breath, makes a sound or the adult becomes unresponsive. If the victim is obese, perform thrust in the center of the chest. 
• If the adult becomes unresponsive, shout for help and IMMEDIATELY start CPR using a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths (30:2)

REMEMBER: Check the mouth for the object after each set of compressions. If you can remove the object safely, do so. NEVER do a blind finger sweep! 

How do you know when a child is choking?

• Makes the choking sign (hands around neck)
• Cannot breath, cough, speak or make  a sound
• Has a cough with no sound

 Ask, "Are you Choking"? If they say yes, tell them you are going to help them.

How do you remove the obstruction?

• Place your fist slightly above the navel with your other hand covering your fist and give abdominal thrust until the object comes out, the child can breath,  make a sound or the child becomes unresponsive. 
• If the child becomes unresponsive, shout for help and IMMEDIATELY start CPR using a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths (30:2)

REMEMBER: Check the mouth for the object after each set of compressions. If you can remove the object safely, do so. NEVER do a blind finger sweep! 

1. How do you know when an infant is choking? 

• Cannot breath or make a sound
• Has a cough that has no sound

2. How do you remove the obstruction?

• Hold the infant face down and give 5 backslaps between the infants shoulder blades 
• If the object does not come out, flip the infant onto their back and give 5 chest thrust using 2 fingers in the center of the chest. 

REPEAT the 5 backslaps and 5 chest thrust until the object comes out or the infant becomes unresponsive.  If the infant becomes unresponsive, call for help and IMMEDIATELY start CPR using a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths (30:2)

REMEMBER: Check the mouth for the object after each set of compressions. If you can remove the object safely, do so. NEVER do a blind finger sweep! 

• Cardiac Arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. It's an electrical problem...

• A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked.  It's a circulation problem...

• Turn the AED on
• Apply pads to chest. Look at the pads for proper pad placement
• Clear the scene when the heart is being analyzed 
• Clear the scene to safely deliver the shock

1. If the victim starts breathing
2. If EMS arrives and takes over the scene
3. If you have been doing CPR for a long period of time and cannot go on.
4. If the scene ever becomes unsafe.