Choking is a serious medical emergency that can cause death if not treated quickly. When someone chokes, their airway is blocked, preventing air from entering the lungs. Choking can happen to anyone, regardless of age, but it is most common in young children.
Signs and Symptoms of Choking
Choking can cause a person to become unable to speak, cough, or breathe normally. Other signs and symptoms of choking include:
• Gasping for breath
• Clutching the throat
• Turning blue or pale
• Inability to cough, talk, or make noise
• Loss of consciousness
Treatment for Choking
If a person is choking, it is important to act quickly and get help. The Heimlich maneuver is the most effective way to dislodge an object that is blocking the airway. This maneuver involves a person standing behind the choking person, wrapping their arms around the person’s waist, and making quick, upward thrusts into the area just below the rib cage.
If the Heimlich maneuver does not work, CPR may be necessary. CPR involves chest compressions and rescue breaths. A person can perform CPR on a choking person until medical help arrives.
Complications of Choking
If a person is choking and is not treated quickly, serious complications can occur. These complications can include:
• Brain damage due to lack of oxygen
• Damage to the lungs due to airway blockage
• Death
Preventing Choking
Choking can be prevented by being vigilant about what a person puts in their mouth. Children should be supervised while eating, and toys or other objects that could be a choking hazard should be kept away from young children. It is also important to learn the Heimlich maneuver and CPR in case of an emergency.
