First Aid for Choking in Emergencies: How Important Is It?

If you have kids, then there's a good chance that you've already dealt with the terrifying experience of having one of them choke on a bite of food. Luckily, the vast majority of choking incidents are not serious and can be resolved with Choking First Aid Australia. But if your child has been choking for more than 15 seconds or turns blue, or stops breathing completely, then it's time to call an ambulance immediately (and put your first aid training into action).

Choking can happen to anyone

Choking can be caused by many different items, including food, toys, small objects and coins. No matter how large or small the object is that's causing the choking, it can cause serious damage to your airway if it blocks your breathing or swallows into your lungs. You may think that choking would only occur with large pieces of food, but this isn't always the case. In fact, even smaller foods like grapes or raisins can be harmful to young children because they get stuck in their throats and make it difficult for them to breathe properly, which results in suffocation if not treated correctly immediately after happening, so make sure you know what signs look like before calling ambulance about choking!

Choking is a medical emergency

Choking is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. It's important to recognize the signs of choking and know what to do if someone is choking.

If you see someone who is choking, take these steps:

• Call an ambulance immediately.
• Offer the person something to drink, but don't force anything into his or her mouth. If possible, give him or her small sips of water or milk; if he or she keeps coughing after drinking them, call the ambulance again because this may mean that his airway is blocked more than before. Don't try to give him hard candies or other foods that could get stuck in his throat—only liquids are safe for someone who has choked on food or another object!
• Give chest compressions until help arrives (about 100 times per minute).

It's helpful for more than just choking victims

Choking is more than just a symptom of choking. It can also be a sign of something more serious going on with your body. In fact, choking is one of the first symptoms of many serious medical conditions, including:

• heart attack
• stroke
• seizure
• diabetic shock

Knowing how to respond in an emergency situation like choking can save someone's life

If you're in a position to help, here are some ways you can assist:

• The Heimlich maneuver. In this Choking First Aid Australia technique, the rescuer stands behind the choking victim and wraps one arm around their torso in order to compress their abdomen.
• Chest compressions. For those who don't know how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), performing chest compressions is relatively straightforward: place two fingers on the centre of their breastbone and apply pressure until the patient starts breathing again.
• Five-and-five technique. If a person is unconscious and not breathing, try doing five back blows between their shoulder blades with your palm firmly placed there for about half a second each time; then follow it up with five abdominal thrusts (also known as "The Heimlich Maneuver"). Repeat as necessary until they start breathing again or medical personnel arrive on the scene!

Conclusion

We know that choking is an emergency situation and one that can happen to anyone. It's important to know Choking First Aid Australia to do in case of an emergency because it could save someone's life.