Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death claiming thousands of lives each year. Unfortunately the elderly and infants make up a large number of those deaths. Choking risk increases with the elderly due to living alone, having dentures and difficulties with swallowing. Here are some tips to help prevent choking and suffocation if you should encounter someone having an issue:
The Heimlich Maneuver
If a victim is able to cough, encourage them to continue to help clear out the object. If they can’t cough, speak or breathe, they need immediate attention. The best way to help someone in this situation is to administer the Heimlich Maneuver or abdominal thrusts. The Heimlich is not recommended for children younger than 1 year old. Here are the steps recommended to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. Seek medical attention even after choking stops.
Administer CPR
CPR will need to be performed if the victim becomes unresponsive. Here are the CPR steps to help a victim. Continue with CPR until the victim responds, an AED is made available or medical help arrives.
Infants and Children
The rescue procedure for infants and children is different. Here are the recommended steps. Prevent this type of tragedy with a few simple practices. Cut infant food into smaller pieces, avoid giving them hard candy and keep small objects out of reach. Also supervise young children while eating and playing.
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