Choking Rescue Procedure: Heimlich Manoeuvre

Overview

A person who is choking (whose airway is completely blocked by food or an object):

• Can't cry, talk, breathe, or cough.
• May grasp their throat.
• May become severely anxious or agitated.
• May turn blue or dusky in colour.
• May pass out.

A choking rescue procedure (the Heimlich manoeuvre) is used to clear an obstruction in adults and children older than 1 year. Back blows and chest thrusts are used in babies younger than 1 year.

Adult or Child Older Than 1 Year

A person who is choking cannot talk, cough, or breathe, and may turn grey or blue. The Heimlich manoeuvre can help get the food or object out. WARNING: Do not try the Heimlich manoeuvre unless you are sure the person is choking.

If the person can cough or make sounds, let the person cough to try to get the object out. If you are worried about the person's breathing, call 9-1-1.

If the person can't breathe, cough, or make sounds, then:

1. Stand or kneel behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist. If the person is standing, place one of your legs between their legs so you can support the person if they faint.
2. Make a fist with one hand. Place the thumb side of your fist against the person's belly, just above the belly button but well below the breastbone.
3. Grasp your fist with the other hand. Give a quick upward thrust into the belly. This may cause the object to pop out. You may need to use more force for a large person and less for a child or small adult.
4. Repeat thrusts until the object pops out or the person faints.

Person Faints

Call 9-1-1 or other emergency services if the person faints. Then:

• Start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if you know how.
• If you do rescue breaths, look for an object in the mouth or throat each time the airway is opened during CPR. If you see an object, remove it.
• Do not do any more Heimlich thrusts.
• Keep doing CPR until the person is breathing on their own or until help arrives.

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Choking While Alone

If you choke while you are alone, use your fists to do thrusts on yourself. Or lean over the back of a chair and press hard to pop out the object.

Baby (Younger Than 1 Year)

If the baby can cough or make sounds, let the baby cough to try to get the object out. If you are worried about the baby's breathing, call 9-1-1.

WARNING: Do not begin the choking rescue procedure unless you are certain that the baby is choking.

If a baby can't breathe, cough, or make sounds, then:

1. Put the baby face down on your forearm so their head is lower than the their chest.
2. Support the baby's head in your palm, against your thigh. Don't cover their mouth or twist their neck.
3. Use the heel of one hand to give up to 5 back slaps between the baby's shoulder blades.
4. If the object does not pop out, support the baby's head and turn the baby face up on your thigh. Keep the baby's head lower than their body.
5. Place 2 or 3 fingers just below the nipple line on the baby's breastbone and give 5 quick chest thrusts (same position as chest compressions in CPR for a baby).
6. Keep giving 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts until the object comes out or the baby faints.
7. If the baby faints, call 9-1-1 (if you haven't called already). Then:
   1. Do not do any more back slaps or chest thrusts.
   2. Start CPR. If you do rescue breaths, look for an object in the mouth or throat each time the airway is opened during CPR. If you see the object, take it out. But if you can't see the object, don't stick your finger down the baby's throat to feel for it.
   3. Keep doing CPR until the baby is breathing on their own or until help arrives.

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