How to properly give first aid for “choking on food” for both young children and adults

Causes of choking

Causes of choking in adults are often caused by:

• food stuck in throat
• drinking water too fast
• Doing various activities while eating, such as talking, laughing, etc.
• Dentures that are not attached tightly enough May slip into the throat or trachea and obstructing the breathing channel or the gastrointestinal tract inadvertently 

Prevention of obstructive airway emergencies in young children and the elderly may be quite difficult to do Because the symptoms are difficult to notice and unclear.

The signs of choking that we observe from ourselves and others

Dr. Jinda Rojamethin, Director of Rajavithi Hospital, said that for the symptoms of choking that are commonly observed. They often use their hands on their necks. But if the person who is choking does not send such a signal Notice the following symptoms, for example:  สมัคร ufabet

• shortness of breath or have unusually heavy breathing and loud noises
• Inability to swallow or taking longer than usual
• talk can’t respond
• Can’t cough hard
• The skin, lips, and nails begin to turn dark. due to lack of oxygen 
• unconscious, unconscious

Groups at increased risk of choking

People at risk of aspiration include: 

• small child
• elderly
• People with a history of pharyngeal surgery, such as tongue base surgery pharyngeal cancer surgery Laryngeal cancer surgery
• People with neuromuscular disorders such as dysphagia
• People who have had surgery on the face and neck 
• Radiation patients 
• respiratory disease patients
• stroke patients Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis spinal cord injury 
• Patients receiving anesthesia 
• Those who have altered consciousness from drinking alcohol or taking antidepressants 

etc.

How to help people with initial choking symptoms

Dr. Somjin Jindavijak Group Head, Specialized Medical Center for Otolaryngology, Rajavithi Hospital added that First aid methods for young children If you notice that the child has strange symptoms, such as looking in pain and breathing loudly unable to cry or cough sometimes not able to cry or breathe It could mean that the child is choking. What to do when a child is choking

1. Children of all age groups with incomplete airway obstruction Still able to breathe on their own, able to speak, advised to cough vigorously for foreign objects to come out
2. In children under 1 year of age, place the child on their stomach parallel to the thighs and support the child’s head. Then use the ridge of the hand to slap vigorously 5 times between the shoulder blades.
3. Check your mouth for anything. If there is, hurry up and use your fingertips to pick it out. It is not advisable to sweep your fingers around the child’s throat. Because it may cause the foreign body to move to a more obstructed position.
4. If assisting with a pat on the back is still unable to remove foreign matter blocking the airway Use the method of pressing on the child’s chest. by holding the child to lie face up parallel to the thigh Then, use 2 fingers to press down the center under the baby’s breast 5 times, checking the inside of the mouth to see if anything has come out. and take it out carefully.
5. If helping with the above method still does not work Hurry up and call an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, help them by alternating back pats and chest compressions. Until the airway obstruction is released or the ambulance arrives. If the child is not breathing, begin chest compressions or pediatric CPR. This may cause a foreign object stuck in the throat to come out. 

As a first aid in older children over 1 year of age and adults, when observing someone who is choking, try to encourage the aspirator to release the obstruction on his own. If the choking person is unable to talk, cry or cough on his own can provide assistance in the following ways:

1. Inform the choking person that help will be provided.
2. stand behind the choker leaning forward Then press on the abdomen 5 times, using both arms to attach to the choking person above the navel. but lower than chest level Then clenched into a fist Then, pull your fist toward you and upward, quickly and hard. Do not use the abdominal blow method on children under 1 year old and women who are pregnant.
3. If choking persists, immediately call an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance, repeat the blows to the stomach until the trapped foreign object is released. or until the ambulance arrives 

In the event that the choking person is unconscious Check to see if he is still breathing. If he is not breathing, prop the patient upside down on a flat surface and begin chest compressions or CPR. The pumping of the heart can also cause foreign objects stuck in the neck to come out as well. Choking can cause complications, for example, in the event of a slight choking, neck injury may occur. or irritation But if choking on a large object and obstruction of the trachea can die from suffocation

How to prevent choking

small child

1. Choose the type and size of the toy to suit children of different ages. 
2. Cut food into smaller pieces to make it easier to swallow. 
3. Do not feed the baby while he is playing. 

elderly

1. Take good care of your gums and teeth  health .
2. Avoid foods that can cause choking. 
3. Elderly people with swallowing problems should consult a doctor to practice swallowing. And hurry to treat when there is a problem with coughing or phlegm 

You can also protect yourself from choking by chewing your food thoroughly. and avoid talking or laughing while eating