First Aid for Choking Victims

Video Transcript

"Hi again, I’m Michelle of the AD HOC Group. Now that you’ve learned how to do CPR, we’re going to teach you choking relief for adults and children over 1 year old. When a person is choking, they really have only a short time before they’ll loose consciousness, so they need your help as soon as possible. When people are choking, they wrap their hands around their neck, like this. This is the universal sign for choking, as the person if they can talk and ask them if they’re choking. If they can’t talk and if they are choking, tell them that you’re going to help them, then step behind them. Place the thumb side of your fist flat against the abdomen, just above the belt line or navel and place the other hand over it. Be sure not to place your hand too high, or you can damage organs by compressing the zyphoid. Also, you won’t get enough leverage to propel an object out of the victim’s throat. Your hands need to be positioned lower if the thrust are to be effective. With your hands placed properly above the navel, thrust your fist inward and upward in quick bursts. If he looses consciousness, he will need CPR, so begin CPR. "