Scene Safety – Assess the Situation

Ensure that rescuer and victim are in a safe location (e.g., out of a burning building) - In case of trauma, do not move victim unless necessary to ensure victim or rescuer safety.

. Make sure the area is safe.

Information to 911(Dispatcher)

  • Address ( Location)
  • Name
  • What happened to the victim
  • If the victim has a pulse.
  • If the victim is breathing.
  • Is CPR being performed?

You hang up after the dispatcher has hung up.

Signs of Choking:

  • is unable to breathe
  • is gasping or wheezing
  • can't talk, cry, or make noise
  • turns blue
  • grabs at his or her throat ( Universal Sign)
  • waves arms
  • appears panicked
  • becomes limp or unconscious

RELIEF OF CHOKING IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN OVER 1 YEAR OF AGE RESPONSIVE victim: (Heimlich maneuver)

1. Use abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)

2. Stand or kneel behind victim & wrap arms around victim’s waist

3. Make a fist with 1 hand and place the thumb side against the victim’s abdomen, in the midline, slightly above navel and well below breastbone.

4. Grasp fist with other hand and press fist into victim’s abdomen with a quick upward thrust.

5. Repeat thrusts until object is expelled or victim becomes unresponsive.

6. Give each new thrust with a separate, distinct movement to relieve obstruction.

7. If find a responsive choking victim lying down, perform abdominal thrusts with person lying down.

Choking - infant under 1 year:

  1. Lay the infant face down, along your forearm. Use your thigh or lap for support. Hold the infant's chest in your hand and hold the jaw with your fingers. Point the infant's head downward, lower than the body.
  2. Give up to 5 quick, forceful blows between the infant's shoulder blades. Use the palm of your free hand.

Where to Check for Pulse: Carotid Artery

How to turn victim over face down to perform CPR:

  • Put victim’s arms alongside victims head so the elbows are by their ears.
  • Take your closest hand and put your palm on their neck and your fingers on their head. This supports the neck.
  • Take your other hand and place it by their armpit.
  • Roll the victim towards you and always protect the head.

Remember to spell C-A-B

The American Heart Association uses the acronym of CAB — compressions, airway, breathing — to help people remember the order to perform the steps of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

Compressions: Restore blood circulation

  1. Put the person on his or her back on a firm surface.
  2. Kneel next to the person's neck and shoulders.
  3. Place the heel of one hand over the center of the person's chest, between the nipples. Place your other hand on top of the first hand. Keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands.
  4. Use your upper body weight (not just your arms) as you push straight down on (compress) the chest at least 2 inches (approximately 5 centimeters). Push hard at a rate of about 100 compressions a minute.
  5. If you haven't been trained in CPR, continue chest compressions until there are signs of movement or until emergency medical personnel take over. If you have been trained in CPR, go on to checking the airway and rescue breathing.

Airway: Clear the airway

  1. If you're trained in CPR and you've performed 30 chest compressions, open the person's airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver. Put your palm on the person's forehead and gently tilt the head back. Then with the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway.
  2. Check for normal breathing, taking no more than five or 10 seconds. Look for chest motion,listen for normal breath sounds, and feel for the person's breath on your cheek and ear. Gasping is not considered to be normal breathing. If the person isn't breathing normally and you are trained in CPR, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing. If you believe the person is unconscious from a heart attack and you haven't been trained in emergency procedures, skip mouth-to-mouth breathing and continue chest compressions.

Breathing: Breathe for the person

Rescue breathing can be mouth-to-mouth breathing or mouth-to-nose breathing if the mouth is seriously injured or can't be opened.

  1. With the airway open (using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver), pinch the nostrils shut for mouth-to-mouth breathing and cover the person's mouth with yours, making a seal.
  2. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Give the first rescue breath — lasting one second — and watch to see if the chest rises. If it does rise, give the second breath. If the chest doesn't rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and then give the second breath. 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths is considered one cycle.
  3. Resume chest compressions to restore circulation.
  4. If the person has not begun moving after five cycles (about two minutes) and an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, apply it and follow the prompts. Administer one shock, and then resume CPR — starting with chest compressions — for two more minutes before administering a second shock. If you're not trained to use an AED, a 911 or other emergency medical operator may be able to guide you in its use. If an AED isn't available, go to step 5 below.
  5. Continue CPR until there are signs of movement or emergency medical personnel take over.