Question

An adult patient has a foreign body obstruction and is able to forcefully cough. What is the MOST APPROPRIATE action for the EMS provider?

1) Administer abdominal thrusts
2) Perform a finger sweep
3) Encourage the patient to continue coughing forcefully
4) Initiate CPR

Answer 1

The most appropriate action for an EMS provider when an adult patient has a foreign body obstruction and is able to forcefully cough is to encourage the patient to continue coughing forcefully.

Step-by-step explanation:

The MOST APPROPRIATE action for the EMS provider when an adult patient has a foreign body obstruction and is able to forcefully cough is to encourage the patient to continue coughing forcefully. It is important to support the patient's natural coughing reflex as this is the body's way of trying to clear the airway obstruction. Administering abdominal thrusts may not be necessary or effective in this situation, and performing a finger sweep may cause further injury or push the obstruction deeper into the airway. Initiating CPR would only be necessary if the patient becomes unconscious and ceases to cough forcefully.