Real-life test: The Internet celebrity's back-patting first aid method is actually wrong! These 3 steps are the correct way to rescue foreign bodies in the airway

A friend who knows medicine around you / makes health easier

【Real case warning】

At 2 a.m., a mother holding her child rushed into the emergency room: "My child suddenly coughed while eating peanuts, and now he can't breathe!" At this time, the child's face was cyanotic and he couldn't speak - this is a typical foreign body obstruction of the airway. Fortunately, the nurse on duty immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver, and 20 seconds later, a peanut sprayed out of the child's mouth. In a race between life and death, the right method can save lives!

1. Identification of airway foreign body obstruction: Catch the "suffocation signal" in 5 seconds

⚠️Remember the "three can'ts" principle :

Unable to cough : When a foreign body completely blocks the airway, the patient cannot cough effectively (partial blockage may cause severe choking cough)

Unable to speak : The patient will hold his neck tightly with his hands in a "V" shape (the international universal choking gesture)

Cannot breathe : cyanosis (bluish lips/nails), restlessness, weak crying and difficulty breathing in infants and young children

Special attention : Drunk, stroke, and Parkinson's patients are more prone to "silent suffocation" due to impaired swallowing function. Even a small amount of sputum blockage can be fatal!

2. First aid treatment: the “golden 4 minutes” that counts

Adult/Child First Aid (Age 1+)

Heimlich maneuver :

① Stand behind the patient and hug his waist;

② Make a fist with one hand, with the knuckle pointing two fingers above the navel;

③ Make a fist with your other hand and push inward and upward quickly 5 times until the foreign body is expelled.

Self-rescue method : Immediately use the back of a chair or the corner of a table to press down on your upper abdomen and quickly move forward.

First aid for infants (under 1 year old)

Back patting and chest pressing method :

① Prone position: Hold the baby's face with your hands, with the head low and the feet high, and pat the back with the base of your palm 5 times;

② Supine position: Use two fingers to quickly press the area below the midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples 5 times; ③ Repeat the operation until the foreign body is expelled.

Note : Do not lift the baby's feet upside down! It may cause cervical spine injury.

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3. Fatal Misunderstandings: These Wrong Operations Are Equal to "Murder"

❌Misconception 1: Using your hands to scratch your throat

→ Foreign objects may be pushed deeper, especially sharp objects such as fish bones and glass, which may scratch the airway.

❌Misconception 2: Feeding water and patting the back

→ Fluids may worsen airway obstruction, and patting the back in the wrong direction (e.g., from bottom to top) may be ineffective.

❌Misconception 3: Do nothing while waiting for an ambulance

→ Brain deprivation of oxygen for more than 4 minutes will cause irreversible damage and immediate rescue is required!

❌Misconception 4: Perform artificial respiration when seeing someone unconscious

→ Foreign objects in the mouth must be removed first, otherwise blowing will blow foreign objects into the deep airway.

4. Risk prevention: building a strong defense line from family details

Child protection (80% of cases are children aged 1-3 years old)

Article management : Coins, button batteries, magnetic beads, nuts, etc. must be placed in the lock box;

Toy selection : Use the "choke test tube" to test - any object that can pass through a toilet paper roll is unsafe;

Eating rules : No running or laughing while eating, and do not feed whole nuts or jellies to children under 5 years old.

Protection for the elderly

Denture wearers: be sure to take them off before going to bed to avoid loosening and accidental inhalation;

For those with swallowing disorders: mash the food into a paste and lower your head when drinking water to prevent choking;

Bedridden patients: Raise the head of the bed 30° during feeding and keep sitting for 30 minutes after feeding.

High-risk scene alert

After drinking : avoid eating foods with bone spurs, and lie on your side to prevent aspiration when vomiting;

Anesthesia recovery period : Do not eat within 6 hours to prevent the throat reflex from recovering;

Outdoor activities : Do not chew gum while running or cycling.

【Special reminder from nurses】

First aid training must learn : Every family member should master the Heimlich maneuver and practice it regularly with doll props;

Beware of "invisible killers" : pen caps, balloon fragments, Yuanxiao, rice cakes and other sticky foods are also high risk;

Seek medical attention promptly : Even if the foreign body is expelled, it is necessary to check for residual fragments or mucosal damage.

Share and spread the word so more people can master life-saving skills!

*References:

1. All network resources

2. The operation guide refers to the "2020 American Heart Association First Aid Consensus". Please refer to professional training for details.

Author: Nurse Wang. A friend who understands medicine makes health easier.

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