Every year a number of people choke to death on food or other objects placed in the mouth. Thankfully most choking incidents are fairly minor, even so these are frightening for the casualty as well as the person looking after them.
- Recognition
- Difficulty in breathing or speaking
- Grasping at the neck or throat
- Pointing to the mouth or throat
- Purple or red colour around the face and neck
- Blueness to the lips.
Casualties are encouraged to cough or if this doesn’t work then firm slaps need to be made between the shoulder blades and the mouth checked. If this is unsuccessful then 5 abdominal thrusts carried out by standing behind the casualty and pulling in sharply with your hands below the rib cage.
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