Choking is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate attention. An unconscious choking adult victim is already a serious matter, it’s severe. Quick care and the right techniques can save the life of an unresponsive choking adult victim.
In the case conscious adult choking victim, apply abdominal thrust also known as the Heimlich maneuver to get rid of any object that’s blocking.
However for an unresponsive adult first clear any object that is blocking the airway and immediately start high-quality chest compression.
Compression circulates blood to the brain and heart. High-quality chest compression for an unresponsive adult is delivered at the rate of 100-120 times per minute at a depth of 5 to 6 cm. When performing CPR on an Unresponsive adult there are slight modifications adopted which we will discuss below.
Responsive Choking Adult vs. Unresponsive Choking Adult CPR
Different CPR technique is delivered for an adult and a child. For example, rescue places two hands for compression for an adult while they use a single hand for compression for a child.
CPR for an Unresponsive Choking Adult
- Make sure the surrounding is safe and secure
- Find help. Call emergency services/91. Ask a bystander to get AED.
- Position the unresponsive choking adult on a flat and solid surface like on floor or flat table
- Clear any foreign object from the victim’s mouth that is blocking the airways
- Start CPR. Let the chest recoil between the compression
- Attempt Rescue Breaths. Pinch the person’s nose shut and attempt to make a complete seal over their mouth with yours. Then, give two one-second rescue breaths. Watch for chest rise.
- Continue CPR. If the rescue breaths don’t go in (i.e., the chest does not rise), go back to chest compressions until the person recovers, emergency medical services take over, or an AED is ready for use.
Remember, this advice does not replace hands-only CPR training. CPR techniques should ideally be learned in a certified first-aid training course. If you are an untrained rescuer give hands-only CPR meaning continuous compressions but no breath. If you feel fatigue then switch the rescuer position maintaining minimum time loss i.e. less than 5 seconds.
High-Quality CPR for Unresponsive Adults Include
- 100-120 compressions per minute
- Compression depth of 2 inches no more than 2.4 inches
- Less than 10 seconds of interruptions in chest compressions
- Adequate rescue breathe to cause chest rise
- 30 to 2 technique – two breathe after 30 compressions
- Switching rescuers after about 5 cycles of compressions and breaths to avoid fatigue and remain effective.
CPR for a Responsive Choking Adult
If an adult is choking but responsive, you shouldn’t perform CPR. Instead, you’ll need to perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) to help dislodge the foreign object from the airway. Here’s how to do it:
- Ask for Consent: Before you begin, ask the choking individual if they are choking and if you can help. They may be able to nod in response.
- Stand Behind the Person: Position yourself behind the individual and wrap your arms around their waist.
- Make a Fist: Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side of your fist against the person’s abdomen, in the midline slightly above the navel and well below the breastbone.
- Grasp Your Fist: Grasp your fist with your other hand and press into their abdomen with a quick, upward thrust.
- Repeat Thrusts: Repeat these thrusts until the blockage is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.
If the person becomes unconscious, then you would initiate the steps of CPR which we have discussed above.
Remember, everyone should receive proper training before attempting these procedures. These instructions do not replace professional training and certification. Enroll in an emergency training course to acquire the experience and effective knowledge of compression and assessing a victim, you may enroll in an online courses as well. Having a CPR or BLS certification is plus point that adds up an extra skill on your CV, while some employer asks for the certification while recruiting employee.
When to Perform Adult CPR
Before performing CPR on an adult or any person check if:
- Unresponsive and not breathing: Pat or shake the shoulder of the victim to check any response, shout loudly “Are you okay?” and analyze if the victim is responsive to the sound or touch. If the victim shows no response clear the area and start CPR but before check if any foreign object is blocking the airways.
- Unresponsive and abnormal breathing: The condition is called gasp breathing sometimes called ‘agonal gasps’. The victim might seem to be breathing but it’s not normal breathing which means the victim is still in severe condition and might be dying. The best chance for survival is early adult CPR.
- Cardiac arrest: Cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function. It’s caused when the heart’s electrical system, which controls the rate and rhythm of heartbeats, malfunctions. This leads to an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) which can cause the heart to suddenly stop beating (cardiac arrest). If CPR is delivered immediately the chances of survival may increase.
It’s important to understand CPR and how to deliver high-quality CPR to an adult, as CPR provides a good chance of reviving a victim.
Related Post: When to Stop CPR
Adult CPR Choking Class
Learning adult CPR can make the difference between life and death during emergency situations. Every day, cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital setting with survival hinging on immediate CPR. Learning this simple skill, you could double or triple someone’s survival chances. Furthermore, it’s not just for strangers – it could be a family member or friend in need. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Empower yourself. Learn CPR along with AED usage and airway management today in our online BLS training course and become the potential lifesaver in your home, workplace, or community. Your hands can make a difference. Act now, get CPR certification online now.
