Choking is a life threatening situation that occurs whenever a foreign object lodges in the throat or windpipe. This
can cause blockage to the oxygen flow to the brain. Choking a real medical emergency that requires fast and
appropriate action by the closest available person. Choking can cause potential death if not acted upon immediately.
Causes of choking
While choking occurs most often among infants and children, choking among adults is not uncommon.
[1] According to Injury Facts, choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury
death. Of the 3,000 people who died from choking in 2020, 1,430 were older than 74. (Choking
2020)
These are the common reasons for choking:
-
When a foreign matter ends up in the trachea and becomes stuck as the airway narrows, choking occurs. Food or other
foreign matter is supposed to go on another path when swallowed. As swallowing occurs, the epiglottis covers the
trachea to prevent the swallowed object from entering the airway. However, when swallowing happens while talking or
laughing, the object may go down the wrong pipe hence getting stuck in the airway.
- Normal swallowing may be deterred by alcohol consumption or drug intake.
-
When food is not chewed properly or when swallowing too much food, large chunks of food may become lodged in the
throat.
-
Certain illnesses may cause choking such as Parkinson’s disease may also cause some difficulty in swallowing and
this can be a potential cause for choking.
Choking hazards for infants and toddlers
Infants and toddlers are still learning how to chew and swallow properly. This means that they are more prone to
choking. Parents must supervise closely when an infant or toddler is eating. They also tend to put anything they touch
in their mouth so they must be watched at all times. According to the CDC, the following food are potential hazards to
infants and children[2]:
- Cooked or raw whole corn kernels
- Uncut cherry or grape tomatoes
- Pieces of hard raw fruit or vegetables
- Whole pieces of canned fruit
- Uncut grapes, berries, cherries, or melon balls
- Uncooked dry fruit such as raisins
- Whole or chopped nuts and nut butters such as peanut butter
- Tough or large chunks of meat
- Hot dogs, meat sticks, or sausages
- Fish with bones
- Large chunks of cheese, especially string cheese
- Cookies or granola bars
- Potato or corn chips, pretzels, or similar snack foods
- Crackers or breads with seeds, nut pieces, or whole grain kernels
- Whole kernels of cooked rice, barley, wheat, or other grains
- Hard candy, jelly beans, caramels, gum drops, or gummy candies
- Chewing gum
- Marshmallows
Choking symptoms
Most of the time, choking victims will have difficulty in speaking so it is important to know the symptoms of
potential choking just in case one is around someone who might be a victim. The following are the known symptoms of
choking:
- Coughing hard
- Gagging
- Throat clutching
- Panicking signals while unable to speak
- Chest beating
- Inability to speak
- Turning pale or blue
- Losing consciousness
Prevention
It is difficult to know when choking will occur however, certain practices can be put in place to prevent this from
happening.
- Eat and chew with enough pacing.
- Avoid talking or laughing while eating.
- Avoid alcohol before eating.
- For infants and toddlers, always supervise them while eating.
- Make sure that a child’s area is free from objects that can be easily fit in the child's mouth.
- When an infant is just beginning solid food intake, cut up the infant’s food into smaller pieces.
- For someone with choking prone illness, meals should always be facilitated.
The heimlich maneuver
Named after the American surgeon Henry Heimlich, the Heimlich maneuver is a well known emergency procedure that is
recommended for someone who is choking. This can be learned even by a non-medical professional. Most of the time,
choking needs immediate intervention and waiting for a medical professional for help may endanger the life of the
victim. The Heimlich maneuver is a series of under-the-diaphragm abdominal thrusts. These thrusts are intended to lift
the diaphragm, forcing air from the lungs to produce an artificial cough. The cough will force air through the
trachea, pushing the object blocking the airway out to the mouth. Abdominal thrusts must be strong enough to force air
from the lungs but not too strong as to damage any internal organs or the victim’s ribs.
Before performing the procedure, make sure to call emergency medical help if you are alone with the victim or have
someone else call otherwise. To perform the Heimlich maneuver [3]:
- Reach around the person's waist.
- Position one clenched fist above the navel and below the rib cage.
-
Grasp your fist with your other hand. Pull the clenched fist sharply and directly backward and upward under the rib
cage 6 to 10 times quickly.
- If the person is obese or in late pregnancy, give chest compressions.
-
Continue uninterrupted until the obstruction is relieved or advanced life support is available. In either case, the
person should be examined by a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
When helping an infant or toddler, extra precaution is needed. Before performing thrusts, try doing at least five firm
blows on the child’s back. If the child responds with a cry or cough, this is a good sign. Continue giving back blows
until the child coughs out the cause of the choking. If the child is still unresponsive, place the child facing
upwards on your lap with the head in a lower position than the whole body. Perform chest thrusts using two fingers on
the center of the breastbone just below the nipples. The thrust must be enough to compress the child’s chest a third
to a half of its depth.
Continue doing the Heimlich maneuver until the obstruction is cleared or medical assistance arrives.
References:
-
https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/choking-suffocation
-
https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/choking-hazards.html
-
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/choking-and-the-heimlich-maneuver
-
Choking Prevention and Rescue Tips. National Safety Council. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2022, from
https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/choking