Choking & Swelling

This is most common with children. A marble, a weed or a button may get stuck in the air passage.

This is most common with children. A marble, a weed or a button may get stuck in the air passage. In adults too, food may go down the wrong way and cause choking.

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Management in the case of an adult.

When victim is standing, the First Aider should stand behind to victim and wrap his arms around the waist. Grasp the fist with your other hand and place the thumb of the fist against the abdomen (belly) slightly above the navel and below the rib cage.

Press your fist into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat several times if necessary till the foreign body is expelled out of the windpipe. When the victim is sitting, the First Aider stands behind the chair and performs the same manoeuvre.

If the victim is lying, turn him supine (face up). Facing the victim, kneel astride the victim's legs. With your hands one on top of another, place the heel of your bottom hand over the abdomen (belly) between the naval and the ribcage. Press into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward thrust repeat several times, if necessary.

Should the patient vomit, place him on his side and wipe to prevent asphyxia. Following the expulsion of food particle/foreign body it may be necessary to give artificial respiration.

Management in case of an infant