Tag: CPR

How to help a choking victim

Shane Woodall

You and a friend are eating lunch together. All of sudden you see your friend grab her throat – a panicked look spreads across her face as she starts to turn purple. You quickly realize your friend is choking.

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What is choking?

Choking is caused when food or some other object blocks a person’s airway and prevents them from breathing. Choking can occur very suddenly in patients of any age. If not rapidly treated, choking quickly leads to death.

Signs of choking

  • Universal choking sign (grabbing or pointing at the throat)
  • Inability to speak
  • Inability to cough
  • Face changing color
  • A panicked look

How can I help someone who is Choking?

  • Send someone to call 9-1-1
  • Take steps to get the object out:
  1. Stand behind the person and bend them down at the waist so they are staring at the ground.
  2. Using the heel of your hand, hit them hard on the back between the shoulder blades 5 times.
  3. Then, have them stand straight up and position yourself behind them.1098-2
  4. Wrap your arms around the person’s abdomen. Make a fist with one hand and place it in the center of the abdomen just above the belly button and beneath the breast bone. Grab your fist with your other hand and give forceful inward & upward thrusts into the abdomen 5 times
  • Repeat as needed until the object comes out, and the person can speak, breathe or cough or until they become unresponsive.
  • If they become unresponsive, call 911 and begin CPR.

Note: If a patient is able to cough forcefully and move air, don’t touch them! Encourage them to cough and call 9-1-1 if needed.

For more details on Choking relief and other First Aid emergencies, Enroll in a First Aid CPR AED training class.

Why do I need to learn CPR… can’t I just call an ambulance?

Shane Woodall

The most famous phone number in the United States – – 911

Ever since you were a kid, you knew that if you ever needed emergency help, calling 911 was the right move to reach the fire department, police or ambulances.

If you see someone suddenly collapse onto the ground and become unresponsive, should you call 911? … Of Course

But how long will it take for the ambulance to arrive?

Although EMTs and Paramedics try to reach victims quickly using lights and sirens, it can often take a long time for the ambulance to arrive. In New York City, the average ambulance response time to a life threatening emergency is over 8 minutes.  

8 minutes! That’s a long time when your friend or family member is not breathing or choking.

When someone goes into cardiac arrest – a condition where the heart suddenly stops beating – they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally. Each passing minute without care results in a 7-10% plunge in survival, according to the American Heart Association.

That’s 10% per minute.

If it takes 8 minutes for an ambulance to show up and no one has helped the patient in the meantime, that victim will probably not survive.

Early CPR from bystanders can triple a person’s chance at survival and keep that person alive until the ambulance arrives and takes over.

Empower yourself with real knowledge on how to respond to an emergency by taking a CPR AED class.

Hands-only CPR

Learn Hands-Only CPR

Shane Woodall

If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, follow these steps.

Step 1: Call 911.

Step 2: Push hard and fast on the center of chest (at least 2 inches deep) to the tune of Stayin’ Alive (100 – 120 beats per minute) until help arrives.

Performing CPR can push blood and oxygen to the brain and vital organs and can help save a life. Learning CPR can give you the skills to save a friend, family member or co-worker! Please contact our team with any questions regarding CPR or if you would like to schedule a CPR AED training class with us.