St. James Parish Emergency Preparedness Department and the St. James CAER members encourage you to take a First Aid class to learn the proper techniques for assisting choking victims. Contact your local hospital (St. James Parish Hospital 225-869-5512) for course offerings. These First Aid instructions are intended only as a refresher to a course you have already taken.

Victim Lying Conscious or Unconscious.

1. Check if conscious or unconscious.

Gently tap and shake shoulders to determine if child is ok. If unresponsive call out for "Help!" Tell someone to call 9-1-1.

2. Position victim carefully on back.

If victim is lying face down, roll child flat onto back. Supporting head, neck and torso carefully turn child as a unit without twisting.

3. Open airway. Check for breathing.

Apply downward pressure with hand on forehead and gently lift with other hand just under chin. Place ear close to child's mouth and nose. LOOK for rise and fall of chest. LISTEN and FEEL for breathing.

4. Attempt to ventilate.

Keeping head tilted and airway open, pinch child's nose with thumb and index finger. Cover child's mouth and attempt to get air into the lungs.
5. Finger sweep for foreign object.
Open child's mouth by grasping tongue and lower jaw, and lift. If foreign object can be seen, insert index finger of other hand along cheek deep in mouth. Using hooked finger try to dislodge object. 

*If unsuccessful, reattempt to ventilate.*

Conscious Victim Standing

1. Recognize choking signs.

Choking victim will have severe difficulty speaking, breathing, coughing and may be wheezing with a high-pitched noise clutching throat. Ask if he or she is choking. If able to speak or cough effectively, do not interfere.

2. If choking - Administer the Heimlich

Maneuver. Stand or kneel behind victim and wrap arms around child's waist. Make a fist with one hand. Place thumb side of fist into abdomen above navel and below rib cage. Grasp fist with other hand and press backward with 6-10 quick thrust until object becomes dislodged or victim becomes unconscious.