Question

You are attending your nephew's birthday party when a 15-year-old suddenly starts choking on a hotdog. What should you do?

A. Administer 2 rescue breaths using a barrier device.
B. Perform a blind sweep of the victim's mouth using a soft cloth to keep him from biting.
C. Deliver 2 back-slaps followed by looking into the mouth.
D. Position yourself behind the child and administer abdominal thrusts or chest thrusts if warranted. (patient too large, pregnant or in a wheelchair)

Answer 1

Encourage the person to cough first, deliver 2 back-slaps and check the mouth second. If ineffective, perform abdominal thrusts or chest thrusts if necessary. If the situation doesn't improve, call for emergency medical assistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

When observing an individual choking, it is important to quickly determine the appropriate course of action based on their condition and age. With a 15-year-old choking on a hotdog, you should encourage the person to cough first. If coughing does not work, you should then deliver 2 back-slaps while checking the mouth. If the obstruction remains, you should position yourself behind the child and administer abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).

This method is generally effective for individuals who are not too large, pregnant, or in a wheelchair. For those individuals, chest thrusts should be used instead. If the individual becomes unconscious or the Heimlich maneuver does not remove the blockage, it is critical to call for emergency medical assistance immediately.