Comments on: Cpr: Why Is It Best To Immediately Ventilate An Unconscious Person With A Severe Airway Obstruction?

By: Your all morons

Your all morons — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:35:26 +0000

As a former fire / rescue, we use our fingers to get the obstruction out, if its feasible. After that we use CPR = Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

By: conorp42

conorp42 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:21:39 +0000

I think that the idea is to release the trapped object from their throat. If this means that itmoves further down and is swallowed then so be it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:50:21 +0000

well if the person cannot breathe you want to get oxygen into them immediatly. you can’t live without it. that is the first step in CPR two rescue breaths. after doing so you want to give chest compresions which will cause the object to dislodge. then you scoop it out with your finger.

By: Madkins0

Madkins0 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:35:34 +0000

Odds are that things have changed- the change in muscle tone, etc. could allow the obstruction to move or air to get past.
He NEEDS air- the attempt to offer it should take only a few seconds. If it does not go in, do chest compressions then a mouth check.
The thing is, if you go immediately to compressions, you risk injuries that may prove to have been for no reason.

By: Magpie™

Magpie™ — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:42:51 +0000

Because you have to do something the results of success are varied.
This is panic stations, there is no logic just make your assessment.
This assessment is book based but really in a situation like you’ve described just do what you think will save the persons life. If it doesn’t it’s not like you didn’t try anything.
They do not recommend the Heimlich maneuver in Oz.
You’ll find that the breaths are not compulsory to do in CPR now anyway.

By: John R

John R — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:18:37 +0000

if you can not ventilate start the obstructed airway procedure which for someone who is not a trained rescuer is done by chest compressions, basically CPR. The main blockage of an airway is the tongue and this is corrected by head position. Heimlich manever is only used on a consious person, again layman rescurer.

By: JSatt

JSatt — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:48:39 +0000

If you can open the airway through a head tilt/chin lift without doing chest compressions, then there is no need for compressions. Keep in mind that the patient going from a standing position to a supine position in addition to the attempt to open the airway could move the object enough to open the airway.
Chest compressions are only used when the airway is completely obstructed, and you won’t know it’s completely obstructed until you attempt to ventilate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:42:46 +0000

Two thoughts: Most AHA text books indicate the rescuer should immediate begin CPR (Which could be interpreted as Chest Compressions First)….
More Likely: The Object will not be forced further “Down” the airway because most objects are “on top of” the airway and if the object could have moved further down, it would have already, by the vacuum the victim (patient) creates by trying to “suck” in air before collapsing.
Also, many victims relax their muscle a bit when falling unresponsive and are no longer “sucking” air in (No Vacuum) and the object falls off the top of the airway to the “other tube” esophagus or other part of the Oral Pharynx. Thanks.