Any First Aid Guru's here

CaptainK · 01-14-2002, 10:41 AM

Hi All,
I have a question for any of you First Aid Guru's out there.
Too make a long story short:
Last Friday my Mom was choking on a piece of steak.
I got behind her and placed my fist on her stomack and got ready for the worst.
But I did not do anything because she was still able to breath, barely. I could hear air going in and also coming out but it was raspy.
I remembered from my first aid training, many years ago, that you should not perform the hiemlick (sp?) if person is still able to breath.
She tried to gag herself, that did not work. And she also wanted to drink water, I told her no because that might make it worse.
Well I had her try to relax and had her tilt her head back and just relax and maybe the food would just slide down. Or it could have gone the other way and cut off her air. But I did not want to tell he rthat or think about that. But I did have the phone by my side just in case.
Well after about five to ten minutes it finally dislodged and went down her throat.
I am wondering if I did the right thing by having had her wait this out and see what happened. or if there was something else I could have done??
Thanks,
CaptK

Talk about being scared out of your mind!!!!!!!
I think I may be looking into getting recertified very soon

thezookeeper · 01-14-2002, 05:20 PM

Well my EMT certification ran out a few years back, but the rule of thumb is if the person can cough, then the airway is not fully blocked and the hemelick (sp?) should not be used. Though I would not recommend throwing the head back, I would have had her try and cough as much as possible to work the food out of the windpipe. At least all went well. Glad to hear that.

Reinhold · 01-15-2002, 01:02 PM

I am an ER doc, and even better, I look just like Anthony Edwards before he went completely bald, but after the "Top Gun" movie.

You did the right thing by standing by, ready to Heimlich her if needed. It could have been a high esophageal impaction or the food could have been stuck in the valecula of the glottis structure.

Joanne is right, a Heimlich will not work unless there is a complete, or at least vey high grade airway obstruction, as it acts like champagne bubbles to blow the cork (food bolus) out of the airway.

Kudos to you and your clear thinking under pressure. There's always a little hanky-panky in the class when we teach the Heimlich.

01-14-2002, 10:41 AM	#1
CaptainK Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: MA. Posts: 534	Any First Aid Guru's here Hi All, I have a question for any of you First Aid Guru's out there. Too make a long story short: Last Friday my Mom was choking on a piece of steak. I got behind her and placed my fist on her stomack and got ready for the worst. But I did not do anything because she was still able to breath, barely. I could hear air going in and also coming out but it was raspy. I remembered from my first aid training, many years ago, that you should not perform the hiemlick (sp?) if person is still able to breath. She tried to gag herself, that did not work. And she also wanted to drink water, I told her no because that might make it worse. Well I had her try to relax and had her tilt her head back and just relax and maybe the food would just slide down. Or it could have gone the other way and cut off her air. But I did not want to tell he rthat or think about that. But I did have the phone by my side just in case. Well after about five to ten minutes it finally dislodged and went down her throat. I am wondering if I did the right thing by having had her wait this out and see what happened. or if there was something else I could have done?? Thanks, CaptK Talk about being scared out of your mind!!!!!!! I think I may be looking into getting recertified very soon

01-14-2002, 05:20 PM	#2
thezookeeper Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA Posts: 992	Well my EMT certification ran out a few years back, but the rule of thumb is if the person can cough, then the airway is not fully blocked and the hemelick (sp?) should not be used. Though I would not recommend throwing the head back, I would have had her try and cough as much as possible to work the food out of the windpipe. At least all went well. Glad to hear that. __________________ "Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."

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01-15-2002, 01:02 PM	#3
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	I am an ER doc, and even better, I look just like Anthony Edwards before he went completely bald, but after the "Top Gun" movie. You did the right thing by standing by, ready to Heimlich her if needed. It could have been a high esophageal impaction or the food could have been stuck in the valecula of the glottis structure. Joanne is right, a Heimlich will not work unless there is a complete, or at least vey high grade airway obstruction, as it acts like champagne bubbles to blow the cork (food bolus) out of the airway. Kudos to you and your clear thinking under pressure. There's always a little hanky-panky in the class when we teach the Heimlich.

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