What are the Key BLS Techniques for Handling Choking Emergencies?

Choking emergencies can happen at any time and anywhere. It can happen at your dinner table when your child accidentally swallows a small object or when an adult member struggles with a piece of food. The situation can take you off guard and create panic in the moment. However, knowing how to respond in such a situation can mean the difference between life and death. Basic Life Support(BLS) techniques for handling choking emergencies are important skills that empower individuals to act confidently in critical situations. In this blog, we’ll explore the key BLS techniques you need to manage choking and potentially save a life. 

Recognizing Choking Emergencies

Choking can escalate quickly from a minor issue to a life-threatening emergency. The ability to recognize the signs and assess the severity of the obstruction is the first step in providing effective assistance. 

Signs and Symptoms of Choking

Choking often presents itself with clear physical signs. Recognizing the signs of choking is the first step in providing help. Common symptoms of choking include:

• Inability to speak, cough, or breathe.
• Wheezing or high-pitched noises when attempting to breathe.
• Clutching the throat (a universal sign of choking)
• Bluish tint around the lips or face(cyanosis)
• Panic or distressed behaviour

Differentiating Partial and Complete Airway Obstruction

It’s very important to distinguish between partial and complete airway obstruction for determining the appropriate response:

Partial Obstruction: The person can still cough or make sounds, which indicates some airflow is present. In this case, you should encourage them to keep coughing and try to dislodge the object on their own. You have to avoid intervening unless their condition worsens.

Complete Obstruction: In this case, the person is unable to cough, speak, or make any sound. They may also show signs of distress, such as clutching their throat, wide eyes, or turning blue due to lack of oxygen. You must immediately intervene with abdominal thrusts or back blows to clear the airway and prevent further complications. 

BLS Techniques for Choking 

The following step-by-step BLS techniques are designed to help you respond appropriately depending on the severity of the obstruction and the person’s condition. Here are the techniques:

Performing Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver)

The Heimlich Maneuver is a proven technique for dislodging an object blocking the airway in a choking person. Here’s how to perform abdominal thrusts step-by-step:

1. Stand behind the choking person.
2. Wrap your arms around their waist.
3. Make a fist with one hand and place it just above their navel.
4. Grasp your fist with your other hand.
5. Perform quick, upward thrusts into the abdomen.
6. Repeat the thrusts until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive.

For Pregnant or Obese Individuals

In cases where abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) may not be effective or safe, such as for pregnant or obese individuals, you can use modified techniques to clear the airway. Follow these steps:

1. Stand behind the person as usual.
2. Position your hands on the center of their chest, slightly above the lower sternum.
3. Place one hand over the other and interlace your fingers.
4. Deliver firm inward thrusts to the chest.
5. Continue the thrusts until the airway is cleared or the person becomes unresponsive.

Using Chest Thrusts as an Alternative

If abdominal thrusts are not effective or suitable, chest thrusts can be a safe alternative for anyone, including those with certain physical conditions. Here’s how to perform chest thrusts:

1. Place your hands on the center of the person’s chest, just above the lower sternum.
2. Use both hands to deliver firm, inward compressions.
3. Repeat the thrusts until the obstruction is removed or the person becomes unresponsive.

How to Manage an Unresponsive Person

When a person becomes unresponsive due to choking, you can follow these steps to restore their breathing and to clear the airway:

1. Safely Lower the Victim

• Gently lower the person to the ground to prevent injury.
• Support their head and neck to avoid unnecessary movement.
• Ensure the person is lying on their back with their head slightly tilted back to open the airway.

2. Perform CPR and Check for Obstructions

• Check for breathing and a pulse. If there’s no breathing or pulse, begin CPR immediately.
• Give chest compressions at a depth of at least 2 inches for adults (about 1/3 the chest depth for infants).
• Open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin.
• Check the mouth for visible obstructions. If the object is seen and reachable, attempt to remove it.
• Provide rescue breaths after 30 chest compressions if the airway is clear.

3. Avoid Blind Finger Sweeps

• Do not perform a blind finger sweep.
• Only attempt to remove visible objects in the mouth.
• If the object isn’t visible, continue CPR without attempting to blindly sweep, as this could push the object further into the airway.

Special Considerations for Choking Infants

Infants have unique needs when it comes to handling choking emergencies, and their smaller, more fragile airways require specialized techniques. While adults can receive abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver), infants require back slaps and chest thrusts.

Performing Back Slaps and Chest Thrusts

1. Position the infant face down on your forearm, ensuring that their head is lower than the chest.
2. Support the infant’s head and neck with your hand, keeping their body secure.
3. Deliver 5 firm back slaps between the infant’s shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
4. If the obstruction is not cleared, flip the infant onto their back while still supporting their head and neck.
5. Give 5 chest thrusts with two fingers in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line, using quick, forceful compressions.
6. Repeat the cycle of back slaps and chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the infant becomes unresponsive.

Preventive Measures for Choking

While knowing how to handle a choking emergency is essential, prevention is the best approach to keep individuals safe from choking incidents. Here are the measures you can take to be safe from choking:

Preventing Choking in Adults

• Chew food thoroughly before swallowing, especially for high-risk foods like meat or large chunks of food.
• Avoid talking or laughing with food in the mouth, as it increases the risk of choking.
• Cut food into smaller pieces for individuals who may have difficulty chewing, such as the elderly or those with dentures.
• Encourage safe eating practices, particularly when eating alone or in a rushed setting.

Preventing Choking in Children

• Supervise young children during meals and playtime.
• Avoid small, round, or hard foods that can easily block a child’s airway, such as grapes, nuts, or popcorn.
• Teach children to sit down while eating and avoid running or playing with food in their mouths.
• Be mindful of toys or objects small enough to be a choking hazard, and ensure they’re appropriate for the child’s age group.

Conclusion

Hence, knowing how to respond to choking emergencies can make a life-saving difference. Whether dealing with a mild obstruction, performing abdominal thrusts, or managing unresponsive individuals, understanding and using the correct techniques is very important. You must understand that children and infants require special consideration, and prevention is always better. 

You can learn these life-saving techniques and gain hands-on experience by joining BLS classes at Sacramento CPR Classes. These skills are essential for anyone, and we offer BLS blended learning course to help you with your busy lifestyle. So, don’t wait for an emergency to happen. Train before and be prepared for choking emergencies.