First Aid International

Choking

Choking (Upper Airway Obstruction)

Airway obstruction may be partial or complete and may be present in the conscious or unconscious casualty. Some causes of upper airway obstruction could be:

  • Relaxation of the airway muscles due to unconsciousness
  • Inhaled foreign body
  • Trauma to the airway
  • Anaphylactic reaction

Signs and symptoms (Partial Obstruction)

With a partial obstruction, some air will be getting past the obstruction into the lungs. The casualty may be present with the following signs and symptoms.

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Wheezing and snoring sounds
  • Persistent cough

Care and Management

  • Despite evidence of an obstruction, if the casualty is coughing encourage them to cough to try and dispel the obstruction.
  • Reassure the casualty and get the history
  • DO NOT carry out back slaps as this may make the situation worse

Signs and Symptoms (Full Obstruction)

  • Unable to speak, cough, breathe or cry
  • Blue tinge of the lips
  • The casualty may grip their throat
  • Agitated and distressed
  • Rapid loss of consciousness

Care and Management

  • Call '000'
  • Calm and reassure the casualty
  • Administer up to 5 back slaps (these are carried out by using the heel of your hand in an upward movement between the shoulder blades). Check to see if each blow has relieved the obstruction. An infant may be placed in a head downwards position prior to delivering back blows, i.e across the rescuers lap.
  • If back blows are unsuccessful, carry out up to 5 chest thrusts checking after each thrust to see if the obstruction has been relieved.
  • If the obstruction is still not relieved, continue alternating between 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until either the ambulance arrives, the obstruction is relieved or the casualty goes unconscious.
  • If the casualty goes unconscious, place them into the recovery position and check airway and breathing. If the casualty is not breathing normally, begin CPR

Note: To perform chest thrusts identify the same compression point as for CPR and give up to 5 chest thrusts. These are similar to chest compressions but sharper and delivered at a slower rate. The infant should be placed in a head downwards supine position across the rescuers thigh. Children and adults may be treated in the sitting or standing position.

Contact First Aid International - 1300 36 56 75

Brisbane 07 3513 3255 - Sydney 02 9204 7777, Sydney Fax 02 9806 9789 - Melbourne 03 9018 9673 - Perth 08 6363 5303 Gold Coast 07 5630 1148

Head Office Fax: 07 3352 3631
Head Office Postal: PO Box 275 Kelvin Grove QLD 4059
Head Office Email: headoffice@firstaidinternational.com.au

Training Locations
22 Bishop Street, Kelvin Grove
11/8 Chrome St, Salisbury
Unit 1 Level 2, 52 Davenport St, Southport
Suite 9, 29 Hunter St, Parramatta
Westfield Eastgardens Shopping Centre, Level 3 office tower, 152 Bunnerong Rd, Eastgardens (Sydney)
18 Ross St, South Melbourne (Melbourne)