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How to Perfrom the Airway Obstruction Maneuver and CPR

© Susan Staples

The "ABC’s" of First Aid are Airway, Breathing and Circulation. If an object blocks the airway only partially, then a person is still able to breathe and cough. Encourage them to cough up the object.

The Airway Obstruction Maneuver

The universal sign for someone choking is the hand at the throat. The steps for the Airway Obstruction Maneuver are as follows:

1. Tell the person you will help them.
2. Stand behind the patient.
3. Wrap your arms around the patient.
4. Make a fist.
5. Put thumb side of fist just above the belly button and below the breastbone.
6. Grasp fist with other hand.
7. Push in and upward.

Repeat the thrusts until the object is expelled or the person can breathe.

How to Perform CPR

If the object can’t be expelled the person will be unable to breathe and they will go unconscious. When this happens position the person on their back on the floor and begin the steps of CPR.

1. Call for help
2. Check for response – Shake the victim and ask, “Are you Okay”? If no response proceed to next step
3. Head Tilt - Chin Lift – When a person is laying on their back, the tongue falls backward and blocks the airway. When the Head Tilt – Chin Lift is done it lifts the tongue off the back of the throat and opens the airway.
4. Look, Listen and Feel - You are looking, listening and feeling for air movement from the person. If there is no air movement proceed to the next step.
5. Place your mouth over the patients mouth and pinch the nose closed to form a tight seal.Give two breaths slowly. While doing this watch for the chest to rise. This tells you for sure that air is getting into the lungs.
6. Check signs circulation - Is the patient breathing, coughing or moving? If not then proceed to the next step
7. CPR - Give 15 compressions by placing the heal of one hand on the persons breastbone between the nipples. Place your second hand on top of your first hand. Straighten your elbows and press down about 1 ½ to 2 inches on the chest and then release. Do this 15 times and then repeat the Head Tilt – Chin Lift and give two breaths. Continue this procedure until help arrives.

Proper techniques for CPR are taught by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Watch a video demonstration of CPR here.

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