(BE) Airway Obstruction Lesson Four

Airway Obstruction

Conscious Victim Choking, also known as airway obstruction, occurs when a person's airway is blocked, either partially or completely. It is a common breathing emergency and you should be prepared to help in an emergency situation. There are 2 types of airway obstructions:

  1. Anatomical airway obstruction in which the tongue or swollen tissues of the mouth and throat block the airway.
  2. Mechanical airway obstruction in which a foreign object, such as a piece of food, small toy or fluids, such as vomit or blood, causes the airway to become blocked.

Choking victims may be able to breathe with difficulty if the airway is only partially blocked. They are able to get enough air in and out of the lungs to cough, speak or make wheezing sounds.

However, if the airway is completely obstructed, the victim will not be able to breathe, speak or cough.

Common causes of choking in adults include:

 

Common causes of choking in infants and children include:

 
  • Trying to swallow large pieces of poorly chewed food.
  • Drinking alcohol before or during meals. (Alcohol dulls the nerves that aid swallowing.)
  • Wearing dentures. (Dentures make it difficult to sense whether food is fully chewed before it is swallowed.)
  • Eating while talking excitedly or laughing, or eating too fast.
  • Walking, playing or running with food or objects in the mouth.

image of hot dog, olives (in martini glass), and dentures
  • Foods (grapes, peanuts, raw vegetables, hard candy, popcorn, gum, vitamins)
  • Toys and household items (safety pins, balloons, coins, marbles, pen and marker caps, small button-type batteries and many more)

image of markers, lollipop, cucumbers, balls, peanuts, marbles

Learning to recognize and care for a conscious choking victim can help save a life.

Please read this section (pp. 59 63) in the digital edition of the American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Participants manual located below. You will be responsible for knowing the procedures for caring for conscious choking victims as described in this book.

Remember:

If a choking victim can cough forcefully, the treatment is to encourage them to continue coughing.

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