Signs and Management of Choking

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Questions and Answers

What is the recommended action if someone is conscious and choking but can still cough forcefully?

Perform back blows continuously

Encourage them to cough (correct)

Give them water to drink

Perform abdominal thrusts immediately

When performing the Heimlich maneuver, where should your fist be placed?

At the chest level

At the base of the throat

Just above the navel (correct)

Around the lower back

What does the 'five-and-five' approach involve in managing conscious choking?

Five minutes of observation and five minutes of calling for help

Five back blows and five abdominal thrusts (correct)

Five attempts to cough and five seconds of rest

Five breaths and five chest compressions

If an unconscious person is found choking, what is the first step in management?

Lower the person onto their back Signup and view all the answers

What is the key action to take if a blockage is visible in the throat of an unconscious person?

Perform a finger sweep to remove it Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential risk when attempting a finger sweep in an unconscious choking victim?

Pushing the object deeper into the airway Signup and view all the answers

What immediate action should be taken if a choking person passes out?

Immediately initiate CPR Signup and view all the answers

In the management of conscious choking, how should a person be positioned to deliver back blows?

Bending over at the waist with support Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in managing an asthmatic attack?

Loosen tight clothing. Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom is NOT typically associated with an asthmatic attack?

Loss of consciousness. Signup and view all the answers

What role does a spacer play when using an inhaler for asthma management?

It ensures maximum benefit from the medication. Signup and view all the answers

What action should be taken if a person with asthma shows no improvement after using medication?

Give 4 to 8 additional puffs every 20 minutes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common position a person may adopt during an asthmatic attack to aid breathing?

Leaning forward with support. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a sign of severe distress during an asthmatic attack?

Blue lips or fingernails. Signup and view all the answers

What should a person do after releasing medication from an inhaler into a spacer?

Breathe out fully for 2 seconds. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in helping a conscious person who is choking?

Wrap your arms around their chest Signup and view all the answers

In the event of an asthmatic still struggling to breathe after medication, what should be done next?

Continue administering medication every 20 minutes. Signup and view all the answers

Which technique should be used when managing a choking infant?

Give 5 sharp back slaps Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of bronchial asthma?

Persistent fever Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if back slaps do not dislodge an object in a choking infant?

Perform chest thrusts Signup and view all the answers

Which response is appropriate for a person showing signs of a heart attack?

Have them lie flat and rest Signup and view all the answers

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthma involves which of the following?

Increased airway reactivity Signup and view all the answers

In the case of a choking adult, where should pressure be applied for effective abdominal thrusts?

Just above the navel Signup and view all the answers

What is the key action to take if a choking infant loses consciousness?

Begin CPR immediately Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Signs of Choking

Coughing or gagging
Hand signals and panic (sometimes pointing to the throat)
Sudden inability to talk
Wheezing, difficulty breathing
Passing out
Turning blue: the person becomes cyanosed
Loss of consciousness

Management of Conscious Choking

Remove any visible objects from the mouth or pharynx
If the person is able to cough forcefully, encourage them to cough
If the person is choking and can't talk, cry, or laugh forcefully, use the "Five-and-Five" approach

“Five-and-Five” Approach

Give 5 back blows
Give 5 abdominal thrusts
Alternate between 5 blows & 5 thrusts until the blockage is dislodged, or the person breathes or coughs

How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver

Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
Place your clenched fist just above the person’s navel.
Grab your fist with your other hand.
Press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust as if trying to lift the person up.
Perform a total of 5 abdominal thrusts until the blockage is dislodged.

Management of Unconscious Choking

Lower the person onto their back on the floor, arms to the side
Clear the airway.
If a blockage is visible, reach a finger into the mouth and sweep out the cause of the blockage.
Don’t try a finger sweep if you can’t see the object.
Begin CPR if the object remains lodged and the person doesn't respond.

Pathological Changes in Bronchial Asthma

Thickening and fibrosis of the sub-basement membrane
Mucus hypersecretion
Injury to epithelial cells
Smooth muscle hypertrophy
Angiogenesis

Asthmatic Attack

Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
Coughing that won't stop
Very rapid breathing
Chest tightness
Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
Difficulty talking
Subject acquires a tripod position
Feelings of anxiety or panic
Pale, sweaty face
Blue lips or fingernails

Management of Asthmatic Attack

Sit the person upright comfortably and loosen tight clothing
Ask the person to take slow, long, and deep breaths
Encourage the person to stay calm
Call the emergency number immediately if the person is struggling to breathe, has blue lips or fingernails, or has no medicine.
If the person has asthma medication, such as an inhaler, assist them in using it.
Help the person use the inhaler
If there’s still little or no improvement, give 4 to 8 puffs every 20 minutes until the ambulance arrives for up to 4 hours.
Monitor the person and reassure them until help arrives.

The Purpose of Using a Spacer with an Inhaler

Ensure the person with asthma gets the maximum benefit from their medication
Helps direct the medicine to the airways of the lungs instead of the mouth
Spacers extend the amount of time the inhaler takes to deliver medicine.

If You're Choking Alone

Place a fist slightly above your navel.
Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface.
Push your fist inward and upward.

If the Person is Obese or Pregnant

Do high abdominal thrusts
For the conscious person sitting or standing, stand behind the person and place your hands under the victim's armpits.
Wrap your arms around the victim’s chest.
Place the thumb side of your fist on the middle of the breastbone.
Grab your fist with your other hand and thrust backward.
Quickly pull inward and upward.
Repeat until the object is dislodged or until the person becomes unconscious.

Management of a Choking Infant (Below 1 Year of Age)

Sit down and put the baby facedown on your forearm so the baby’s head is lower than their chest.
Support the baby’s head in your palm, against your thigh.
Give up to 5 sharp back slaps with the heel of 1 hand in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades.

Management of a Choking Infant (Cont.)

If the object does not pop out, support the baby’s head and turn them face up on your thigh.
Keep the baby’s head lower than their body.
Place 2 or 3 fingers just below the nipple line on the baby’s breastbone and give 5 quick chest thrusts.
Keep giving 5 back slaps & 5 chest thrusts until the object comes out or the baby faints.

Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways characterized by attacks of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

Pathophysiology of Asthma

The pathophysiology of asthma is a complex chronic disorder of the airways that involves a complex interaction of:
Intermittent airflow obstruction
Bronchial hyperresponsiveness

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Description

Test your knowledge on the signs of choking and the appropriate management techniques, including the Heimlich maneuver. This quiz covers essential steps to recognize choking and how to respond effectively to save a life.