Choking occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked and the victim can't breathe. This condition can cause unconsciousness and death. Every year in this country some 3,000 people die from food or some other object, blocking the airway.
How to Spot It
Gasping for air; coughing or attempting to cough; turning blue at the lips, mouth, and under the fingernails; and not being able to talk or make noise are signs of choking. The universal distress signal of a choking victim is grasping or clutching the throat.
How to Treat It
If the victim is conscious and can speak, cough, or breath, do not interfere. Encourage the person to cough up the object.
If the victim cannot speak, cough or breath, ask "Are you choking?" If the victim nods yes, perform the Heimlich maneuver until the foreign object has been expelled. Stand behind the victim.
Wrap your arms around the victims waist. Grasp one fist with your other hand and place the thumb side of your fist in the midline slightly above the navel. Press into the abdomen with quick inward and upward thrusts. Deliver each manual thrust with enough force to remove the obstruction.
Continue until the obstruction is gone or medical help arrives. The victim should be examined by a physician as soon as possible.
If the victim becomes unconscious, follow the proper procedures for CPR.
Caution: Do not use this technique on infants. First-aid procedures such as the Heimlich maneuver should be practiced only on mannequins or other training devices. Chest compressions or thrusts can cause rib fractures or other injuries.
How to Prevent It
To prevent choking in infants and children, keep marbles, beads, thumbtacks, and other small objects out of their reach, and do not let them walk, run or play with food or toys in their mouths.
Adults can lower the risk of choking by cutting food into small pieces and chewing food slowly and thoroughly, especially if wearing dentures. Avoid laughing and talking while chewing and swallowing.