How to help someone who is choking
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00:00Hi, I'm Nathan. I'm a paramedic working for North West Ambulance Service and today we're going to discuss and go through some
00:07life-saving first aid for a patient that is choking from babies, children and adults.
00:14When babies are choking they can often choke on liquid items such as curdled milk, vomit or mucus.
00:22However they can also choke on solid items such as solid foods, small toys as well as any other small objects they're able to get hold of.
00:31If you have identified that a baby or child is choking then call 999 immediately.
00:43Remember to support their head and keep the baby's airway open to dislodge the blockage.
00:51Place the back in between the shoulder blades up to five times.
00:54Use the force of the back blows depending on the size of the baby.
00:58The back blows need to be hard enough to cause a vibration in the airway and dislodge the blockage.
01:04Step 3. Turn the baby over so they face upwards along your thigh.
01:09Place two fingers in the middle of their chest just below the nipples.
01:14Push sharply down up to five times aiming for a third of the chest.
01:20Do not do the Heimlich Maneuver because this could damage the internal organs of the baby which is still fragile.
01:27After performing these steps it's vital that we now reassess baby.
01:32If baby is appearing to be breathing normally and is appearing normal prior to the choking incident
01:38then it's important you consider using your own transportation or alternative transport to local hospital.
01:45However, if not and on reassessment of baby and they appear to still be choking
01:51then re-perform all the steps that have just been discussed and await 999.
01:57If you suspect that a child or adult is choking they may appear to be red or blue in the face.
02:06They may also have some signs of clutching the chest, clutching at the neck or coughing profusely
02:13or worst case scenario they might not be breathing.
02:17Here are the steps involved for treating a patient that is choking.
02:22First thing we need to do is to encourage them to cough and we get them into a comfortable position.
02:28One of the positions is by leaning them forwards and encourage them to cough.
02:33Step 2 is conducting five back blows.
02:37So we aim for the centre of the shoulder blades on the back of the patient.
02:41With your hands firmly strike the patient in this area five times like this.
02:48We reassess the patient and if the patient still continues to choke we conduct what's called the Heimlich Maneuver.
02:57The area we're aiming for in the patient is just above the belly button and below the diaphragm area.
03:04In the centre area we get our fist and we go into the middle of that area.
03:09With our other hand we place firmly on top of that fist.
03:13Bending over slightly forwards we're pulling in and up doing this five times.
03:19If this has failed it's important to await for further assistance such as 999 and redoing those steps continuously.
03:30If the choking and obstruction is clear then reassess and reassure the patient.
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