Choking
Choking can be silent and deadly. Not only do we see choking predominantly in children, adults can also choke, particularly the elderly.
Choking is a leading cause of death in Australia, especially among young children. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) National Injury Surveillance Unit, there were 445 choking deaths between 2006 and 2015. Choking is the second leading cause of accidental death in children aged 0 to 4 years.
First aid is the best way to help a choking person. Have you heard of the saying, If they are red with an effective cough - keep hands off, if they are silent and blue - they need you. If the person has an effective cough, encourage them to cough, coughing is more effective then back blows or chest thrusts.
It is important to remember that if a person is not able to breathe, talk, or cough, they are choking.
The following steps should be taken to help a choking person:
1. Call 000 for an ambulance.
2. Give five back blows: stand behind the choking person and support their chest with one hand, then use the heel of your other hand to give up to five sharp back blows between their shoulder blades, checking to see if the obstruction has dislodged after each blow
3. If the person is still choking, give 5 chest thrusts in the middle of the chest (same position as CPR) checking after each trust to see if the obstruction has dislodged
4. If the person is still choking continue to repeat the back blows and chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the person starts to breathe, cough or talk.
5. If the person becomes unconscious, begin CPR. It is important to remember that if a person is not able to breathe, talk, or cough, they are choking and require immediate first aid.
Download our free Choking first aid chart to print off and keep in your first aid kit.