How to Carry Out Abdominal Thrusts and Chest Thrusts as First Aid for Choking

  

Date Posted: 7/8/2014 1:49:46 PM

Posted By: Wishstar  Membership Level: Gold  Total Points: 7507

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How to Carry Out Abdominal Thrusts and Chest Thrusts as First Aid for Choking
Abdominal Thrusts
In abdominal thrusts pressure is applied under the diaphragm to force air out of the lungs, creating an artificial cough. The abdominal thrust can be administered to a conscious adult or child who is standing or sitting, or to an unconscious adult or child who is lying on his back. The risk of causing internal injuries can be reduced if abdominal thrusts are properly applied. Abdominal thrusts must not be used on an infant, because they will cause serious injuries. Their use is not recommended on a woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy nor on a markedly obese person, because of the difficulty of getting pressure under the diaphragm.

Abdominal Thrusts for a Conscious Adult out Child
Here is the procedure of giving abdominal thrusts to a conscious child or adult who is standing or sitting:
1. Stand behind the casualty, reach under her arms and wrap your arms around her waist.
2. Locate the xiphoid process with the middle finger of one hand and the navel with the middle finger of the other.
3. Make a fist with the lower hand and roll it upward so that the thumb is against abdomen, in the midline, just above the navel and well below the tip of the xiphoid.
4. Grasp the fist with the other hand and press upward quickly and forcefully, making each a distinct thrust with the intent of dislodging the obstruction.
Give abdominal thrusts repeatedly to a conscious choking person until the obstruction is relieved or until the person becomes unconscious.

Abdominal Thrusts for an Unconscious Adult or Child
1. Position the casualty on his back on a firm flat surface.
2. Kneel astride the casualty at the thighs or lower, so that the heels of your hands reach the upper abdominal

area comfortably.
3. Locate the xiphoid process with the middle finger if one hand and the navel with the middle finger of the other.
4. Let the hand at the xiphoid drop down so that the heel of the hand falls just above the navel.
5. Place the other hand on top of the first, ensuring that the fingers are parallel to the midline of the body. Keep the fingers interlocked to ensure that the pressure will be delivered only through the heels of the hands.
6. Thrust upward quickly and forcefully.
Give an unconscious casualty a series of six to ten distinct thrusts, each with the intent of dislodging the obstructing material.

Self Administered Abdominal Thrusts
A conscious person can administer abdominal thrusts to himself to assist his efforts to cough up a foreign body. To administer abdominal thrusts to yourself:
1. Make a fist and place it, thumb side in, in the midline just above your navel and well below the xiphoid process.
2. Grasp the fist with the other hand and press quickly and forcefully upward under the diaphragm.
Repeat these thrusts until the obstruction is dislodged.

Chest Thrusts
Chest thrusts are used when abdominal thrusts cannot be used effectively, such as on a woman in an advanced stage of pregnancy or a person who is markedly obese. Chest thrusts are also used on infants in order to avoid injury to internal organs. Chest thrusts can be administered to both the conscious and the unconscious casualty.
Chest Thrust for a Conscious Adult
1. Stand behind the casualty and reach under the armpits to position your hands midpoint on the chest.
2. Make a fist with one hand and position it, thumb side in, on the middle of the sternum, but well above the the xiphoid process.
3. Grasp the fist with the other hand and pull backward forcefully to compress the chest.
Chest thrusts are given slowly and distinctly, each with the intent of relieving the obstruction. They are repeated until the airway is cleared or until the person becomes conscious.

Chest Thrusts for an Unconscious Adult
To deliver chest thrusts to a pregnant or obese person who is unconscious, place these casualties in their backs on a firm that surface with their arms at their sides. Landmark the hands on the sternum to compress the chest.

Landmarking
To landmark for chest thrusts, kneel close to the casualty's chest near the shoulder. Use the hand nearest the casualty's feet for landmarking.
1. Locate the bottom edge of the casualty's rib cage nearest to you with the index and middle fingers of the land marking hand.
2. Run these fingers up the edge of the rib cage to the mouth where the ribs meet the sternum
3. Leave the middle finger in the notch and place the index finger above it on the lower end of the sternum.
4. Place the other hand next to this index finger so that the heel of the hand runs along the length of the sternum with the fingers raised and pointing directly across the chest.
5. Place the land marking hand on top of the hand on the sternum with the fingers parallel and raised it interlocked to prevent any pressure being applied to the ribs.
Chest Thrusts for Infants
Chest thrusts in combination with back blows are used to relieve airway obstruction in infants because abdominal thrusts may damage internal organs

Land marking
Chest thrusts are given to a choking infant with two fingers placed along the length of the sternum one fingers width below the nipple line. Position the fingers for chest compression as follows:
1. Locate the centre of the sternum along an imaginary line between the nipples.
2. Place the tip of the index finger on the sternum just under this line and let the next two fingers fall in place next to the index finger.
3. Raise the index finger, leaving the other two fingers in place ready to compress the infant's chest.
Hold the infant on your thigh, while supporting the head and neck with the head lower than the trunk.

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