Airway Obstruction
Airway Obstruction
Korean Red Cross
Important Definitions

Airway: Parts of the respiratory system through which air flows from the no
se and mouth to the lungs.

Choking: A common breathing emergency when the airway is blocked by a
foreign object, swelling in the mouth or throat or by fluids.

Cyanosis: A bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin due to deficient oxy
gen of the blood.
Learning Objectives

Recognize the symptoms of airway obstruction.

Distinguish an airway obstruction emergency from a cardiac emergency.

What to do when you are unable to give effective abdominal thrusts.

What to do when a person with airway obstruction becomes unconscious.
Definition and Symptoms of Airway Obstruction
Korean Red Cross
Choking is a common breathing emergency. If a conscious person
is choking, his or her airway has been blocked by a foreign object
such as piece of food or a small toy, by swelling in the mouth or
throat, or by fluids such as vomit or blood. The airway may be
partially or completely blocked. With a partially blocked airway,
the person usually can breathe with difficulty. A person whose
airway is completely blocked cannot breathe at all.
A person with a partially blocked airway may be able to get
enough air in and out of the lungs to cough or to make wheezing
sounds. The person may also get enough air to speak. If the
choking person is coughing forcefully, let him or her try to cough
up the object. A person who is getting enough air to cough or
speak is getting enough air to breathe. Stay with the person and
encourage him or her to continue coughing. However, if the
person continues to cough without coughing up the object, have
someone call 1-1-9.
Complete First Aid on a Person
with Airway Obstruction
Korean Red Cross
①Stand or kneel behind the person and wrap your arms around his or her waist.
②Make a fist with one hand and place the thumb side against the middle of the person’
s abdomen, just above the navel and well below the lower tip of the breastbone.
③Grab your fist with your other hand and give quick, upward thrusts into the abdomen.
④Continue abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged and the person can breathe
or cough forcefully, or becomes unconscious.
Complete First Aid on a Person
with Airway Obstruction
Korean Red Cross
Position the infant face-up on your forearm.
Place your other hand on top of the infant, us
ing your thumb and fingers to hold the infant
’s jaw while sandwiching the infant between y
our forearms.
Turn the infant over so that he or she is facedown on your forearm.
Lower your arm onto your thigh so that the i
nfant’s head is lower than his or her chest. T
hen give 5 firm back blows with the heel of y
our hand between the infant’s shoulder blade
s. Each blow should be a separate and distinc
t attempt to dislodge the object.
Maintain support of the infant’s head and nec
k by firmly holding the jaw between your thu
mb and forefinger.
Give up to five
back blows
Give up to five
chest thrusts
Complete First Aid on a Person
with Airway Obstruction
Korean Red Cross
chest thrusts
too big or pregnant
person
alone
lean over and press your
abdomen against any firm
object