Choking Flashcards
7 cards from real BLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Choking flashcards as text
A coworker is eating lunch and suddenly cannot speak or cough. She nods 'yes' when you ask if she is choking. You should:
Answer: Stand behind her and begin abdominal thrusts
Inability to speak or cough signals a severe obstruction requiring immediate abdominal thrusts — do not delay intervention.
After relieving an infant's choking obstruction, you notice the infant is not breathing normally. You should:
Answer: Begin infant CPR with 30 compressions and 2 breaths
If the infant is not breathing normally after the obstruction is cleared, begin CPR immediately with 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths.
Which statement about using abdominal thrusts on a child (age 1–8) is correct?
Answer: Use gentler, less forceful thrusts scaled to the child's size
Abdominal thrusts for children should use less force than for adults to avoid injury, while still being firm enough to generate the necessary airway pressure.
Before calling 911, a responsive adult choking victim should receive how many abdominal thrusts?
Answer: 5 thrusts, then call if not resolved
For a responsive adult, begin with up to 5 abdominal thrusts immediately; if the obstruction is not cleared, call 911 (or have someone else call) and continue thrusts.
A person is found unconscious and you suspect choking as the cause. Before starting CPR, what unique step should you perform?
Answer: Open the airway and look in the mouth for a visible foreign object before attempting breaths
Open the airway with a head-tilt chin-lift and look for a visible object in the mouth; only remove it if clearly visible before beginning CPR.
An elderly resident of a nursing home is choking and has significant osteoporosis. Which concern is MOST relevant when choosing your technique?
Answer: Chest thrusts carry a higher risk of rib fracture in this population
Chest thrusts carry a higher risk of rib fracture in patients with osteoporosis, so abdominal thrusts are generally preferred unless abdominal thrusts are contraindicated.
Which of the following best describes 'mild' airway obstruction in a choking patient?
Answer: The patient has a strong cough and can breathe between coughs
A mild (partial) airway obstruction is characterized by a strong, effective cough and the ability to breathe, indicating some air is still moving past the obstruction.