First aid skills save lives

St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity has teamed up with All About Family to bring you some simple, but life saving, first aid tips – this time: choking.

Choking is caused by a foreign object that is stuck at the back of the throat. A child may choke on food, or may put small objects into their mouth and cause a blockage of the airway.

If the blockage is severe they will be unable to speak, cough, or breathe, and will eventually lose consciousness.

If the casualty is a child or adult, follow these steps;

  • Ask the casualty ‘Are you choking?’ If the casualty is breathing encourage them to cough. 
  • If they can’t speak or breathe, bend them forward. Give up to five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check their mouth.
  • If choking persists, stand behind the casualty. Put both arms around them and put one fist between the navel and the bottom of the breastbone. Grasp your fist with your other hand, and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times. Recheck the mouth.
  • Repeat the backslaps and thrusts until the obstruction clears. If after three cycles it still has not cleared, call 999/112. Continue the sequence until help arrives. If they lose consciousness, open the airway and check breathing.

If the casualty is an infant, follow these steps;

  • Lay the baby face down on your forearm supporting the body and chin.
  • Give up to five back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand, check the mouth for any obstruction and remove.
  • If the obstruction hasn’t cleared, turn the baby on their back. Place two fingers on the centre of the infant’s chest and push inwards and upwards against the breastbone. Check the mouth for any obstruction and remove. Repeat up to five times.
  • If the obstruction doesn’t clear, repeat the backslaps and thrusts until the obstruction clears. If after three cycles it still has not cleared, call 999/112. Continue the sequence until help arrives.

For those looking for quick, easily accessible first aid information, the St John Ambulance website (www.sja.org.uk) lots of free advice. For more information about first aid courses please call 0844 770 4800.