First Aid First Aid Choking and Airway Emergencies Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An infant is choking and cannot cry or cough effectively. What is the correct first step?
- Call 911 immediately before doing anything
- Give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades (Correct answer)
- Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)
- Place the infant on their back and give chest compressions
Correct answer: Give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades
For a choking infant, alternate 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the infant becomes unresponsive.
Question 2: A conscious adult is choking but can still cough forcefully. What should you do?
- Begin abdominal thrusts immediately
- Encourage them to keep coughing and stay nearby (Correct answer)
- Perform back blows to dislodge the object
- Call 911 and wait for paramedics
Correct answer: Encourage them to keep coughing and stay nearby
A forceful cough is the most effective way to dislodge an airway obstruction, so you should encourage continued coughing without interfering.
Question 3: During the Heimlich maneuver on a standing adult, where should you position your fist?
- On the center of the chest over the sternum
- Just below the xiphoid process and above the belly button (Correct answer)
- At the level of the belly button
- On the lower ribs on either side
Correct answer: Just below the xiphoid process and above the belly button
The fist is placed just above the navel and well below the tip of the xiphoid process to deliver effective inward-and-upward abdominal thrusts.
Question 4: A pregnant woman is choking. How does the technique for clearing her airway differ from the standard Heimlich maneuver?
- Use back blows only; abdominal thrusts are never performed
- Deliver chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts (Correct answer)
- Lay her on her side and perform back blows
- Perform the Heimlich exactly the same as on any adult
Correct answer: Deliver chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts
Chest thrusts are used for pregnant women and obese individuals because abdominal thrusts may harm the fetus or be ineffective.
Question 5: You are alone and choking with a complete airway obstruction. Which self-help technique is recommended?
- Lie down on your back and wait for help
- Call 911, then try to deliver self-administered abdominal thrusts using your fist or a hard edge (Correct answer)
- Drink water to dislodge the object
- Bend forward and pat yourself on the back
Correct answer: Call 911, then try to deliver self-administered abdominal thrusts using your fist or a hard edge
You can perform self-administered abdominal thrusts with your own fist or by thrusting your upper abdomen against a hard edge such as a chair back.
Question 6: A choking victim becomes unresponsive. What is the NEXT immediate action?
- Continue abdominal thrusts until the object comes out
- Lower them carefully to the ground and begin CPR starting with chest compressions (Correct answer)
- Perform 5 back blows while they are lying down
- Attempt a blind finger sweep of the mouth
Correct answer: Lower them carefully to the ground and begin CPR starting with chest compressions
When a choking victim loses consciousness, lower them to the ground, call 911 if not done, and begin CPR — chest compressions may help expel the obstruction.
First Aid First Aid Choking and Airway Emergencies Questions and Answers 2
An infant is choking and cannot cry or cough effectively.
What is the correct first step?