A person can choke for numerous reasons.

This happens when the airway of a person gets blocked (fully or partly), and they can’t breathe normally or at all.

Today we will learn about the Choking First Aid Australia and how to apply it on a person.

NOTE: This practice shall be implemented on children over one year old and adults. For babies, you need to consult the experts.

Mild Choking

During mild choking, encourage the person to cough hard. This will make the person breathe, cry, or speak if the choking is partly. They will be able to clear out the blocking themselves.

How to help a person or child with mild choking?

Encourage the person to cough as much as they can so that the blocking can be cleared.

Ask them to spit whatever is in their mouth.

Never put your finger inside their mouth as they might bite you accidentally

Try back blows if coughing is doing no good.

Extreme choking

If you don’t have a Heartsine Defibrillator, try some back blows and abdominal thrusts.

When choking gets severe, and the person is not able to speak, cough, cry or breathe, it’s time to provide quick help. If no help is provided to them on time, they might get unconscious.

How to back blow an adult or a child?

Stand to the one side on the behind of the person. Use your one hand to support them and then lean forward. This will help the object to move and clear the airway in the mouth.

Give 4 to 5 sharp blows right between shoulder blades with the help of hand heels. The heel is the part of your hand between palm and wrist.

Now check if the blockage is still there.

If the blockage is still there, give 5 abdominal thrusts

How to give Abdominal thrusts?

Never give abdominal thrusts to babies below 1 year or a pregnant women.

How to carry out abdominal thrust?

Stand behind the person and place your arms around their waist.

Now bend forward and compress 1 fist then place it above their belly button.

Put your other hand on the top of your fist and sharply pull inward & upward motion.

Repeat this at least 5 times to clear the blockage.

If nothing is happening and the person is still choking, try some back blows and abdominal thrusts.

If nothing is happening after doing all, call the emergency number to get quick medical help.

But, don’t stop back blows & abdominal thrust cycles until the help reaches.

What complications you can face

The person might have a persistent cough after choking

They may feel something is still inside their throat and stopping them from breathing.

Abdominal thrust can lead to some injuries.

This situation can happen anytime, anywhere, any day, and to anyone. You can keep yourself and your family members ready for this situation with the right Choking First Aid Australia practices or by buying a Heartsine 360p.

So stay safe and keep everyone around you safe with the right choking first aid training.

Do it right now!