A foreign object that is stuck at the back of the throat may block the throat or cause muscular spasm.
Young children especially are prone to choking. A child may choke on food, or may put small objects into their mouth and cause a blockage of the airway.
If the blockage of the area airway is mild, the casualty should be able to clear it; if it is severe they will be not be able to speak, cough or breathe and will eventually lose consciousness.
How to Recognise a:
Mild Obstruction:
- Casualty will be able to breathe, speak, cry or cough
- Severe obstruction
Severe Obstruction:
- Casualty will be unable to breathe, speak, cry or cough
- Casualty will eventually lose consciousness unless they are given assistance
Treatment for adult or child
Your aims are to remove the obstruction and to arrange urgent removal to hospital if necessary.
If the obstruction is mild:
- Encourage them to continue coughing
- Remove anything that is an obvious obstruction from the mouth
If the obstruction is severe:
Give up to 5 back blows
- Look inside the mouth and remove anything causing an obvious obstruction
If the obstruction has not moved:
- Give up to 5 abdominal thrusts
- Look inside the mouth and remove anything causing an obvious obstruction
If the obstruction has not been cleared after repeating the cycle of back blows and abdominal thrusts three times
Call an ambulance by dialling 999 or 112
Keep repeating the pattern until help arrives
To see images and a video of actions that can be performed by a trained adult go here – What to do when a baby or infant chokes (For trained professionals)
SB (07/17)