Choking

1 How would you know if someone was choking?

2 What question do you ask if you think that someone is choking?

3 To what part of the back do you apply back blows?

4 What is the maximum number of back blows you should give in any one cycle?

5 Explain how you would give an abdominal thrust.

6 The type of advice sought if abdominal thrusts are used

7 The colour of a choking person’s lips

8 When should you call for an ambulance?

Competence
element / Skill / Sign / Comment
Assess danger / • Look for danger
Assess casualty
How would you know they are
Choking? / • Ask the casualty “Are you choking?”
• Recognise the casualty is choking by:
red/flushed face (at first)
distress, grasping at throat
blueness/greyness (later)
Treat a choking casualty
Know how many back blows to give
Know what to do if this fails / • Ask the casualty to cough
If they cannot:
1 bend casualty forward and support with arm
2 give back blows between
shoulder blades with flat
Of hand).
• Give up to five back blows
• Give abdominal thrusts
Treat a choking casualty (abdominal thrusts) / • Make a fist, thumb tucked in
• Stand behind the casualty and lean them forward
• Place fisted hand, thumb
nearest casualty’s body
between the navel and
breastbone
• Clasp other hand over the
top of the fist and pull
sharply inwards and upwards to expel the
blockage
Know how many
abdominal thrusts
to give
Know what to do if this fails / • Give up to five abdominal thrusts
• Repeat back blows and abdominal thrusts up to three times
• Call for an ambulance and continue until help arrives
Know what to do
if the casualty becomes
unconscious / • Follow primary survey
• Call an ambulance
• Start resuscitation