September 12, 2011
Over the past few years I have received numerous reports from previous students with “successful save stories”, thanking me for teaching them how to save a life. Here are a few of those stories.
A female accountant who took my CPR, AED and first aid class was eating lunch in the employee cafeteria when a co-worker stood up and placed his hands on his throat, the universal choking sign. The man looked scared as he was unable to cough, talk or breath.
Remembering her training, she asked him if he was choking, he nodded yes. She asked him if he needed help and again he nodded yes. She went behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed.
After only a few attempts, a piece of food that was lodged in the man’s throat popped out and he began breathing.
A new father told me that he had to perform back smacks on his infant son that had an airway obstruction. And one of the more interesting ones, a woman called after saving her new puppy. The puppy was choking and she performed back smacks, similar to those performed on a child, and saved the pup's life.
These stories are true, and scenes like this happen every day. Some are successful saves, yet many people die from choking, also called foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO).
Choking is one of the leading causes of unintentional death in the United States. In 2002 more than 5,500 people died from choking or suffocation, of which 636 were under the age of 1, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
Choking is a condition caused by inhalation of a foreign object that partially or fully blocks the airway. If the airway is not cleared quickly, the victim will most likely die. When you are not breathing, you are in respiratory arrest. Respiratory arrest will ultimately lead to cardiac arrest, which means your heart stops and you are dead.
Often, choking happens with adults in restaurants or at dinner parties where the combination of food, talking, laughter and a few cocktails can be deadly if food accidentally becomes lodged in the airway.
But you can help and here are steps to save a choking person's life:
Step 1. Ask the person, "Are you choking?" Remember, someone who is truly choking will not be able to answer you but they should nod their head.
Step 2. Ask the person, "May I help you?" In the United States you need permission to touch a conscious person.
Step 3. If they are choking, and want your help, go behind them. If the choking person is sitting down, ask them to stand up. Wrap your arms around their waist as if you were hugging them. Make a fist, and place the thumb side of your stronger hand toward the victim, about one inch above their belly button. Place your other hand on top of the first.
Step 4. Strongly squeeze in an upward manner, thrusting your fist into their abdomen. You are trying to squeeze the body, forcing the air out of the body, which should shoot the food lodged in their throat.
Continue doing this until the food is dislodged, the victim can breathe or the victim passes out. If they pass out, and are still not breathing you will most likely need to begin the steps of CPR. If choking persists, contact 911 or emergency medical services immediately.
If you have ever been punched in the stomach and had the wind knocked out of you then you understand what we are trying to accomplish here. We are literally trying to knock the wind (and lodged food) out of our victim.
Beware of the bathroom as this is the worst place for a choking person. Often the choking victim senses there is something stuck in their throat and they leave the dinner table thinking they might throw up. This, however, is a big mistake. They need help and quick action must be taken otherwise they could die.
If you see someone that appears to be choking heading to the restroom, it is wise to ask if they need assistance.
This information is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional instruction by a qualified CPR and first aid instructor. All captains and crew should re-certify every two years.
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