This document provides information on airway obstructions and choking. It discusses causes of partial and complete airway obstructions, signs and symptoms of choking, and treatment procedures. For conscious victims, it describes performing abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) by standing behind the person and thrusting fists into their abdomen. For unconscious people, it outlines opening the airway, delivering abdominal thrusts, performing a finger sweep, and providing rescue breaths. Procedures are also provided for choking in children and for self-administered choking relief.

1. First Aid & Safety
Airway obstruction
(CHOKING)
Prepared By
Dr. Zuhair Rushdi Mustafa
Lecturer at University of Duhok/ College of
Nursing

2. Airway Obstructions
 In order for oxygen from the air to flow and
return from the lungs, the upper airway must
be unobstructed.
 CHOKING
Choking is the mechanical obstruction of the flow
of air from the environment into the lungs.
 Choking occurs when an object gets stuck in
the throat and partly or completely blocks the
airway

3. Upper airway obstructions often occur because
(causes)—
1. The most common cause of airway
obstruction is the tongue. The casualty’s tongue
falls back into his throat while he is unconscious.

4. Obstructed Airway
open
closed
obstructed
Tongue

5. 2. Foreign bodies become stuck in the throat.
These obstructions usually occur while eating.
Causes
-Choking on food (usually meat) is associated
with—
a. Attempting to swallow large pieces of poorly
chewed food.
b. Drinking alcohol.
c. Slipping dentures.

6. 3. The contents of the stomach are regurgitated
and may block the airway.
4. Blood clots may form as a result of head and
facial injuries.
5. Respiratory diseases like cancer of larynx.

7. Upper airway obstruction may cause either
partial or complete airway blockage.
 Partial airway obstruction.
In this case, the casualty may still have an air
exchange.
A good air exchange means that the casualty
can cough forcefully, although he may be
wheezing between coughs.

8.  Important Notes
 Do not interfere or treat with any choking
victim who is able to cough or speak.
 Coughing is the most effective way to clear a
foreign body from the airway, and the ability to
speak indicates that adequate ventilation is still
occurring.
 You, the rescuer, should encourage the
casualty to cough up the object obstructing his
airway on his own.

9.  Complete airway obstruction.
 A complete obstruction (no air exchange) is
indicated if the casualty cannot speak, breathe,
or cough at all.
 He may be grasping his neck and moving
irregularly.
 First aid for chocking is crucial for this type of
obstruction.

10. Obstructed Airway (choking)
Signs Symptoms:
1. Unable to breath, speak or cough due to obstruction
2. Face turns blue from lack of oxygen
3. Distress, and panic.
4. Victim wrapped Hands around the neck
(Universal sign)
5. Wheezing, gagging, ineffective coughing
6. If not treated, lead to unconsciousness

11. Treatment of Airway obstruction (choking)
More than one technique may be needed in
removing a severe obstruction include:
1. abdominal thrusts
2. chest thrusts
 Clearing a conscious casualty’s airway
obstruction can be performed with the casualty
either standing or sitting.

12. Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) For
conscious victim:
Procedure
1. If the casualty is breathing, encourage hem to
continue coughing. If he is not coughing and not
able to breathe, this means he is choking. Go to
step 2.
2. Ask the victim, are you chocking? If yes,
Start Abdominal thrusts.

13. 3. Standing behind the casualty
with one leg back and the
other between the casualty’s
legs and put both arms around
the upper part of her abdomen.
And tip the person slightly
forward

14. 4. Make a fist with one hand and grasp it with
the other. The fist should be touching the
casualty’s abdomen, slightly above the
casualty’s navel, below the tip of the breastbone

15. 5. Press the fists into the abdomen, thrust
sharply inward and upward.
6. Continue thrust until the object is removed or
the casualty becomes unconscious.
7. If the obstruction still has not cleared, start
CPR until help arrives.

16. Apply chest thrusts
 This technique is useful
when the casualty
has an abdominal wound, when the casualty is
pregnant, or when the casualty is so obese.

17.  To apply chest thrusts with casualty
sitting or standing:
1. Stand behind the casualty and wrap your
arms around his chest with your arms under his
armpits.
2. Make a fist with one hand and place the
thumb side of the fist in the middle of the
breastbone.
3. Grasp the fist with the other hand and apply
thrusts. Use a straight thrust.

18. 4. Perform chest thrusts until the obstruction is
expelled or the casualty becomes unresponsive.
5. If the casualty becomes unresponsive, call for
help then open the airway and perform rescue
breathing or CPR.

19. Choking procedure (Cont).
• For Unconscious Victim:
1. Ask someone to call 122
for help.
2. Lower victim to floor
on back
3. Open airway by the head tilt–chin lift
method.
4. place heel of palm just above navel (middle
of breastbone), and deliver quick inward and
upward abdominal thrusts (up to five thrust).

20. 5. Open the mouth and perform a finger sweep
using a hooking motion of the index finger to
dislodge the foreign body.
6. Reposition the head (the head tilt–chin lift )
and attempt rescue breathing.
7. Repeat the sequence of the
abdominal thrusts, finger sweep,
and rescue breathing attempts
until victim restarts breathing or
help arrives.

21.  The steps to perform the Heimlich
maneuver on yourself if you are choking
are:
1. Place your fist just slightly above your navel.
2. Grasp your fist with your other hand, bend
over a hard surface like a chair or table, and
thrust your fist inward and upward.

22. Heimlich Maneuver: For children with foreign
object
1. Give 5 back blows and check the mouth for
removing object. Attempt to remove object. If not
removed give 5 chest thrust.

23. 2. continue 3 cycles of 5 back blows and 5 chest
thrust
3. If unsuccessful, call the ambulance or emergency
help.
3. Continue 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the
object is removed or emergency help arrives.
4. If the baby become unconscious, start CPR.