Choking Flashcards

When a mother screams from the waiting area, you are working at a pediatric clinic. She is crying out, "My baby is choking, please help!" You dash outside to aid. The mother is holding her 9-month-old child, who had been playing with some toys while they waited, and the area is secure. First, you look for choking warning signals and the need for assistance. Pick the ideal indication of a full foreign body obstruction.

Answer: unable to cry or make noise

The ideal indication of a complete foreign body airway obstruction in an infant or child is the inability to cry or make any noise. This signifies that no air is moving past the obstruction. Other signs like coughing, wheezing, or high-pitched breathing indicate a partial obstruction where some air exchange is still occurring.

The baby doesn't cry and seems to be in distress. It doesn't seem like there is any air exchange going on. (True or False) To clear the airway congestion, this kid needs assistance.

Answer: True

True. If an infant is unable to cry or make noise and shows no air exchange, it indicates a severe, complete foreign body airway obstruction. This is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate intervention to clear the airway. Without intervention, the infant will quickly become unresponsive and suffer respiratory arrest.

The next thing you should do is start taking action to open up the airway. (True or False) Up until the airway obstruction is cleared, backslaps are the preferred primary intervention for newborns.

Answer: False

False. For infants with a complete foreign body airway obstruction, the preferred primary intervention is a combination of 5 back slaps followed by 5 chest thrusts. This sequence is repeated until the obstruction is cleared or the infant becomes unresponsive. Back slaps alone are not the sole preferred intervention.

After two rounds of chest thrusts and back slaps, the infant becomes limp and unresponsive. What will you do in this situation to intervene?

Answer: have someone activate emergency services

If an infant becomes limp and unresponsive during choking maneuvers, the immediate next step is to activate emergency services if not already done. Then, the rescuer should begin CPR, starting with chest compressions. Continuing back slaps and chest thrusts on an unresponsive victim is ineffective, and a blind finger sweep is not recommended.

As emergency services are now being activated by a bystander who was close, you set the newborn down on a flat, firm surface and start performing CPR, starting with chest compressions. What additional action will you take in this scenario following each round of chest compressions?

Answer: Look for the obstructing object in the back of the throat before providing a rescue breath.

When performing CPR on an unresponsive choking victim, after each round of chest compressions (30 for a single rescuer, 15 for two rescuers), you should open the airway and look for the obstructing object in the back of the throat. If you see the object, attempt to remove it with a finger sweep. This is done before attempting rescue breaths.

You release the baby's airway after 30 chest compressions, then search the child's mouth for the obstruction. You are able to take out a small toy that you see. (True or False) You'll perform a brachial pulse check as your next course of action.

Answer: False

False. After successfully removing an obstruction and providing rescue breaths, if the child is still unresponsive and not breathing normally, you should continue CPR. A pulse check is only performed if the child shows signs of life (e.g., starts breathing normally, moving, or responding). If the child remains unresponsive, CPR should continue until EMS arrives or the child recovers.

You are handling this child's foreign body airway blockage situation very well. (True or False) You should continue performing CPR until emergency medical services (EMS) come and take over, or the child begins to breathe, move, or otherwise respond.

Answer: True

True. CPR should be continued without interruption until one of three things occurs: emergency medical services (EMS) arrive and take over care, the child begins to breathe, move, or otherwise respond, or the rescuer becomes too exhausted to continue. Continuous, high-quality CPR is crucial for maintaining vital organ perfusion.

You are handling this child's foreign body airway blockage situation very well. (True or False) You should continue performing CPR until emergency medical services (EMS) come and take over, or the child begins to breathe, move, or otherwise respond.

Answer: True

True. CPR should be continued without interruption until one of three things occurs: emergency medical services (EMS) arrive and take over care, the child begins to breathe, move, or otherwise respond, or the rescuer becomes too exhausted to continue. Continuous, high-quality CPR is crucial for maintaining vital organ perfusion.

You're in the hospital cafeteria on break. You observe a disturbance at a different table as you settle down to enjoy your lunch. A man appears to be in trouble as he stands up. He made the traditional choking sign by placing his hands at the victim's throat. You stand beside the person who is choking. (True or False) Your first line of defense should be encircling the victim's chest.

Answer: True

True. For a conscious adult choking victim, the first line of defense is to perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver). This involves standing behind the victim and encircling their chest with your arms, then delivering quick, upward thrusts to the abdomen. This action helps to dislodge the foreign object from the airway.

When you start doing abdominal thrusts, the patient soon stops responding. You want someone nearby to trigger the emergency response mechanism. What will you do to intervene?

Answer: gently lower the victim to the ground

If a choking victim becomes unresponsive while you are performing abdominal thrusts, the immediate next step is to gently lower them to the ground. Once on the ground, you should activate the emergency response system if not already done, and then begin CPR, starting with chest compressions. Continuing abdominal thrusts on an unresponsive victim is ineffective.

You take the meat out of the victim's mouth. After removing the impediment from the airway, you should ___________.

Answer: check for responsiveness

After successfully removing an airway obstruction, the immediate next step is to reassess the victim's condition. This involves checking for responsiveness to see if they have regained consciousness and are breathing normally. Only after confirming responsiveness and normal breathing would you consider other actions like checking a pulse or attaching an AED if needed.