What is the recommended action for a complete airway obstruction?

What is the recommended action for a complete airway obstruction?

• A. Tap between shoulder blades
• B. Call for help only
• C. Reach around them with a fist, thumb in upper abdomen and hand around fist. Push.
• D. Lay them down and give CPR

Answer: (C)

When a person has a complete airway obstruction, you need to generate a quick, forceful movement that pushes the blockage out of the airway. Abdominal thrusts accomplish this by rapidly increasing pressure in the chest and airways, which can expel the object. Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the abdomen, just above the navel. Grasp that fist with your other hand and press inward and upward with quick thrusts. Continue performing these thrusts until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive. If the person is pregnant or very obese, use chest thrusts instead. If they lose responsiveness, lower them to the ground and begin CPR, checking the mouth for the obstruction and removing it if visible. Do not lay them flat and start CPR while the airway remains blocked, as that does not relieve the obstruction.

When a person has a complete airway obstruction, you need to generate a quick, forceful movement that pushes the blockage out of the airway. Abdominal thrusts accomplish this by rapidly increasing pressure in the chest and airways, which can expel the object.

Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the abdomen, just above the navel. Grasp that fist with your other hand and press inward and upward with quick thrusts. Continue performing these thrusts until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive.

If the person is pregnant or very obese, use chest thrusts instead. If they lose responsiveness, lower them to the ground and begin CPR, checking the mouth for the obstruction and removing it if visible. Do not lay them flat and start CPR while the airway remains blocked, as that does not relieve the obstruction.