Food enters the lungs. Feeling of food entering the airways

Every adult needs to know the basics of providing first aid to victims in various emergency situations. Such an educational subject as taught in schools starting from junior classes. And even in kindergartens, preschoolers learn the basic rules of first aid. Nevertheless, it would be a good idea for anyone to refresh their knowledge. In our article we will consider a situation in which a foreign body ends up in the respiratory tract. What to do in this case? We will talk about the symptoms of this condition, as well as first aid techniques in this emergency situation.

How can a foreign body enter the respiratory tract?

According to statistics, cases are more often recorded when a foreign body is found in a child. Symptoms of this condition can be different, it all depends on how much the object blocked the air flow. But in any case, such a situation is extremely dangerous for the life and health of both children and adults.

Therefore, it is very important not to leave children under three years of age without adult supervision - children often taste some kind of “find,” as they say. In addition, teething also encourages children to put the first objects they come across into their mouths.

In addition, babies often fidget, laugh, and talk while eating, which can also lead to aspiration of an unchewed piece of food. And not a fully developed system reflex processes in children younger than that only contributes to the worsening of the situation, significantly increasing the risk of suffocation.

But doctors regularly encounter situations where foreign bodies get into Airways adult. Conditions that increase the risk of such situations occurring include:

alcohol intoxication;
communication, laughter during meals;
low-quality prostheses;
unprofessional rendering dental services(cases of suffocation are known in medicine extracted tooth, removed with a crown, broken instruments).

What is the danger?

The entry of foreign bodies into the upper respiratory tract of an adult or child is Emergency, requiring emergency assistance Although in medical practice There are examples when a patient sought help from doctors with complaints of difficult breathing only several months after a foreign object entered the body. But still, in most cases, the time to provide assistance and save a person is measured in seconds.

What happens in the body if there is a foreign body in the respiratory tract? Unfortunately, medical statistics disappointing. So, in almost 70% of all such cases, a foreign object reaches the bronchi, less often (about 20%) - it is fixed in the trachea and only 10% remains in the larynx (let's jump ahead and say that it is in the latter case that removal is easiest foreign body from the respiratory tract, although there are exceptions to this rule).

The human reflex mechanism is triggered in such a situation in the following way: As soon as an object passes through the glottis, a muscle spasm occurs. Thus, even when coughing heavily, it is extremely difficult for a person to remove a foreign body. Such defense mechanism further complicates the situation and contributes to the development of suffocation.

Why do some cases do not pose a high danger to human life and health, while others are, as they are called in medicine, emergencies? It is difficult to answer this question unambiguously; what matters here is the confluence of different circumstances. Including these:

The most dangerous objects

What is the danger of a foreign body entering the respiratory tract? The structure of the foreign object plays a decisive role. So, the larger it is, the higher the likelihood of blocking the space for air flow. But even small objects can cause serious problems. For example, even pieces of meat, sausage or boiled potatoes can provoke an attack of suffocation if they get into the spasmodic muscles of the vocal cords.

Uneven or sharp objects can not only “catch” on the walls of the trachea, but also injure it, which will lead to even greater complications.

Nuts that seem harmless at first glance are dangerous because, once in the respiratory tract, they can, thanks to the air flow, mix from one zone to another, causing unexpected attacks of suffocation (a person has not eaten anything and suddenly begins to choke, and this situation can be repeated repeatedly until removal of a foreign body from the respiratory tract).

But it is precisely the objects that are usually considered the most dangerous - metal, plastic or glass (children often swallow toys with precisely these characteristics, for example, rattle balls, small parts of a construction set) - of all the listed possible foreign bodies, they are least likely to cause suffocation.

It should be noted that organic plant foreign objects in the respiratory tract are dangerous not only due to the possibility of blocking the access of oxygen, but also due to other complications:

they tend to break into pieces, which can lead to numerous repeated attacks of suffocation;
such bodies, as a result of being in “greenhouse” conditions inside the body, can swell, increasing in size, thus gradually worsening the human condition;
plant components as a result of organic processes lead to the formation of inflammation at the site of fixation.

Thus, if there is a foreign body in the respiratory tract, then, no matter how deep it has advanced, it should be removed as soon as possible, since the consequences can make themselves felt at any time.

The danger of this situation lies in its sudden occurrence and rapid advance suffocation. Here the effect of surprise is triggered - both the choking person and those around him may simply become confused and begin to panic. Unfortunately, such a reaction to an emergency situation can lead to a tragic outcome. Therefore, it is important not only to remember the technique of providing medical care in such cases, but also to be psychologically prepared to provide this very assistance at the right time.

It is especially important to react correctly when a foreign body is stuck in a child’s respiratory tract. Symptoms can be different, so it is important to recognize them in a timely manner and begin to help the baby, because here time counts in seconds.

To reduce the likelihood of such situations occurring, you should follow preventive measures, which are described in more detail in the corresponding section of the article.

To help a person who is experiencing suffocation due to the penetration of a foreign object, it is extremely important to quickly “recognize” the characteristic signs of such a condition. What are the symptoms of a foreign body in the respiratory tract? Read about it below.

Symptoms that indicate a foreign body has entered the respiratory tract

How can you understand that a person is suffering from the fact that he has a foreign body in his respiratory tract? Signs of this condition vary and depend on the structure, size of the object, as well as the location where it is fixed.

Thus, a large object that completely blocks the access of oxygen causes a sharp cough, a person instinctively grabs his throat with his hands, after a few seconds loss of consciousness, redness of the face, and then blueness of the skin are possible.

If a foreign body is fixed in the respiratory tract in such a way that there is a small gap left for gas exchange, then the characteristic signs of this condition are the following:

convulsive cough, often accompanied by vomiting or hemoptysis;
disturbance of the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation;
increased salivation;
the appearance of tearing;
short-term episodic attacks of respiratory arrest.

This state can last up to half an hour - it is during this time that the reflex muscles are exhausted. protective functions body.

If small smooth objects get into a person’s respiratory tract, it is possible complete absence any signs of such a condition over a certain period of time (depending on where the object was recorded, organic or inorganic origin foreign body). But, unfortunately, if no measures are taken to remove the foreign object from the human body, it will not “resolve” on its own, but will cause serious complications. Later certain time the victim will have various problems with breathing, for example, such as shortness of breath, hoarseness in the voice and others. When listening with a stethoscope, noises will be heard in the area where the foreign body is fixed.

Is it possible to help yourself?

Is it possible to give yourself first aid for a foreign body in the respiratory tract? It's possible. But here it is important to have self-control and not give in to panic. Since there is very little time, you first need to calm down and not take sharp breaths (this will only worsen the situation, because the air flow will simply push the object deeper).

The algorithm of actions in such an emergency situation is as follows:

Inhale smoothly and slowly, filling your chest with air as much as possible. Then exhale as sharply as possible, thus trying to push out the object lodged in the throat.
Another way to help yourself remove a foreign body from the respiratory tract is to apply pressure during a sharp exhalation. top part belly on the tabletop or back of the sofa.

Techniques for providing first aid when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract

Are foreign bodies found in the respiratory tract? First aid in such a situation should be provided as follows:

Call a team of doctors immediately.
Before doctors arrive, first aid should be provided according to the technique described below.

There are two ways to remove a foreign body:

1. Bend the victim over the back of a chair, stool or the thigh of the person providing assistance. Then, with an open palm, sharply hit between the shoulder blades 4-5 times. If the victim has lost consciousness, he should be laid on his side and struck on the back. This method is called in medical literature Mofenson's method.

2. Another method is the following: you need to stand behind the person who is choking, grab him with your hands under the ribs and apply sharp compression from bottom to top. This is the so-called

If the methods described above do not bring results, and the victim’s condition worsens, you can resort to another medical care technique: lay the patient on the floor, placing a cushion under the neck so that the head hangs down. You need to prepare a napkin, piece of fabric or something similar. Then you need to open the victim’s mouth. Using the material, it is necessary to grab the person’s tongue and pull it towards you and down - perhaps in this way the foreign body will become noticeable and can be pulled out with your fingers. However, it is not recommended for a non-professional to perform such actions, since the technique requires special skills. And if assistance is provided incorrectly, it can cause even more harm to the victim.

Signs of foreign body aspiration in children

Adults can accurately understand and characterize their condition if such a situation arises. But children sometimes even forget that they accidentally swallowed a wheel from toy car or a designer part. If there is aspiration of a large object that blocks the access of air, then the symptoms will be the same as described above: convulsive cough, vomiting, redness of the face, and then bluishness of the skin.

But if the foreign body has penetrated deeply, signs of such a condition may be completely absent. In order to determine the presence of a foreign object in the baby’s respiratory tract, you need to ask him to talk to an adult. If the child has difficulty pronouncing words, whistling or “popping” sounds are heard, or the child’s timbre or strength of voice has changed, the child needs urgent medical attention.

Foreign bodies in the respiratory tract in children: first aid

The technique of providing first aid to children differs from the “adult version”. It's connected with anatomical features structure of a growing organism. How to help a baby if there is a suspicion of a pathology such as foreign bodies in the upper respiratory tract? First aid in such a situation is as follows:

If the child is under one year old, then he needs to be placed on his forearm in such a way that an adult can hold the baby’s chin with his fingers. The baby's head should hang down. If the child is older than the specified age, he is placed on his knee.
Then you need to knock 4-5 times with open palms between the baby’s shoulder blades. How younger child, the weaker the blows should be.
If this technique does not produce results, you need to lay the baby on its back and perform so-called subdiaphragmatic thrusts. In this case, you need two fingers (if the child is under one year old) or a fist (for children over a year old) place on the stomach just above the navel and perform sharp pressing movements inward and upward.
If there is no improvement in condition little patient should start carrying out ( artificial respiration) until the ambulance arrives.

Surgical methods for removing a foreign body from the human respiratory tract

What to do if it was not possible to remove the foreign body using the methods described above? Then you will most likely need surgical intervention. In order to determine what type of surgery is necessary in a particular case, specialists conduct tests such as diagnostic laryngoscopy and fluoroscopy. Depending on the results, the doctor may prescribe the following manipulations:

Laryngoscopy. Using this procedure, they not only determine the presence of a foreign body in the larynx, trachea and vocal cords, but also remove it.
Upper tracheobronchoscopy using forceps. This procedure involves inserting an endoscope through the oral cavity, through which a special instrument is delivered that can remove a foreign body.
Tracheotomy - education surgically external opening in the trachea.

All described methods are dangerous due to the development of complications both during their implementation and in the postoperative period.

Preventive measures

The diagnosis of “foreign bodies of the upper respiratory tract” is extremely dangerous and requires urgent medical attention. In order to reduce the likelihood of such an emergency, you should follow simple recommendations:

While eating, you should not talk, move around, or watch TV. Children should also be taught these table manners.
Do not abuse alcoholic beverages.
Seek medical help promptly if you have illnesses oral cavity(including dental).
Keep potentially dangerous items out of the reach of children.

This material provides recommendations on how to remove foreign bodies in the respiratory tract. First aid for both adults and children should be provided as soon as possible; in some situations there is simply no time to wait for doctors to arrive. Therefore, the information presented in this article may be important and necessary for everyone.

Anyone can choke on food or water. That is why you should know the main principles of helping the victim. You can often hear the phrase: “Water went down the wrong throat.” What does this mean, and if this happened, how to deal with it?

Causes and symptoms

Why is this possible? The fact is that people carelessly and sometimes irresponsibly take the advice of experts: drink and eat slowly, do not talk at this time, chew food thoroughly. Such neglect simple rules can cost your health, and in some cases lead to a tragic outcome: food ends up “in the wrong place” and moves down a different path intended for air.

Elderly people who, due to their anatomical capabilities (lack of teeth or incorrectly selected dentures), cannot chew food well.
Children under 6 years old.
Patients with injuries or anatomical pathologies that may affect the swallowing process (for example, cleft lip).

A person who chokes on saliva or a sip of water will definitely start coughing. This great way clear the airways of any liquid that has entered there. Most often, such people do not need outside help. But if a solid foreign body (seed, apple or berry pits, bread crumbs) gets into the wrong throat, breathing is blocked partially or completely, and the person begins to choke. The face changes color to pale or, conversely, burgundy.

It is important that the choking person does not panic, since in this case attempts to inhale air become more frequent, which can lead to pushing an unnecessary object deeper into the trachea or lungs. Also, you should not “help” the patient by randomly tapping on the back, especially if the person is in vertical position, because in this case what is stuck in the throat can move lower.

What to do?

It is most difficult to cope with a problem when there is no one near the victim. To save his life, he will have to help himself get rid of the foreign body in the larynx. Food that gets into the windpipe will not go away on its own. She needs to cough it up. A cough can be provoked by bending forward and down, while inhaling slowly and sharply pushing the air out of the lungs. The process of expectoration is possible only when the larynx is not completely blocked.

If the person who is choking cannot cope on his own, the person is suffocating, you must call ambulance. In the meantime, it is necessary to provide first aid medical care: tilt the victim forward and lightly tap between the shoulder blades several times (5 times is usually enough). Water or food debris should come out of your throat. If the method does not bring results, you need to use the Heimlich method:

Stand behind the patient.
Wrap your arms around him so that your hands meet in the area between the chest and the navel.
Make a fist with your other hand around it.
Press your fist at the indicated point, while squeezing your elbows and raising your fist up to your chest. Carry out the manipulation until the patient can breathe on his own.

Doctors advise combining back tapping in the interscapular area and the Heimlich method, performing them in turn. Please note that in the case of pregnant women, this method is also acceptable, but you need to press not on the stomach, but at the base of the chest (to avoid damage to the fetus). It’s worth acting in the same way when saving an overweight person.

A food product stuck in the esophagus can not only cause a feeling of discomfort. It may well damage the walls of this section of the gastrointestinal tract. Such consequences cannot be treated independently; it is recommended mandatory consult a doctor.

Loss of consciousness during asphyxia due to the failure of air to pass into the lungs due to the larynx being blocked by food particles is not uncommon. It is recommended to place the patient on his back (the victim's head should not turn). Feel free to sit on top, then, placing your fist between the navel and the inframammary area, apply pressure several times, performing the same movements as if you were standing behind the person and using the Heimlich method.

How to help a child?

If something gets into the throat of a small child, under no circumstances should you try to remove the object with your fingers: crumbs from the larynx can get into the respiratory tract. In addition, the pharynx and mucous tissues in children are too delicate and can be easily damaged - this will lead to serious complications and long-term rehabilitation. The first thing to do is call an ambulance team.

When you are waiting for doctors, you cannot sit idly by. Make sure your child's nose is clear of mucus. If the baby chokes, turn him over on his tummy, lift him by the legs so that his head is lower than his body, and lightly tap him on the back. But use this method only if you have the skill of saving a person in a similar situation. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to take risks: a careless blow with a little more force than required can not only block breathing even more, but also lead to rupture of the lungs.

Children over 10 years old can free their breathing using the Heimlich method.

On the Internet on forums you can also find information that if a child chokes on water or milk, raise his hands up.

To avoid food or drink getting into the trachea or lungs, you must always remember the saying “When I eat, I am deaf and dumb!” As practice shows, food or water goes down the wrong throat of an adult at the moment when he wants to express his opinion.

The topic of this article is not seasonal. But it is very relevant for everyone who has small children. However, in adults similar troubles happen too. I mean the entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract.

Let's talk briefly about adults first. How can a foreign body get into the respiratory tract of an adult? After all, he doesn’t put everything in his mouth like children. Of course it doesn't drag. But some adults have the habit of holding some small items while working. Remember, haven’t you ever had pins or small nails or screws in your mouth? By the way, I often do this myself. Foreign bodies such as dentures can enter an adult's respiratory tract during sleep or in situations where the person is unconscious. And of course, don’t forget that you can simply choke on food.

According to statistics, in 95-98% of cases, foreign bodies in the respiratory tract occur in children aged 1.5 to 3 years.

Children are little explorers. Their area of research includes absolutely everything. And they want not only to see, hear and touch their surroundings, but to taste everything they can reach. And these hands don’t always reach only for toys. Often these are completely inappropriate items, for example, beads, buttons, beans or peas, nuts, and so on. Children try to apply small objects to everything and most often push them into the most inappropriate places. And such inappropriate places include the ears, nose and mouth. Some small object that the child put in his mouth “slips” into the larynx during a deep breath. The reason for such inhalation may be fear, crying, screaming.

In addition, a child of this age is just learning to chew and swallow correctly. solid food. And, of course, he doesn’t succeed right away. Therefore, it is at this age that the risk of pieces of solid food getting into the respiratory tract is greatest.

Another bad thing is that the child cannot always say what exactly happened to him. And sometimes foreign bodies in the respiratory tract are detected too late.

And now a little anatomy.

The structure of the respiratory tract in humans is as follows: when inhaling, air enters the nasal passages, then into the nasopharynx and oropharynx (here the respiratory system intersects with the digestive system). Then - the larynx. In the larynx, air passes through the vocal cords and then into the trachea. Here is the first feature: in the subglottic space in a child under 3-5 years of age there is a very pronounced lymphoid tissue, which tends to swell quickly. This is what leads to the development false croup at viral infections. And when foreign bodies enter this area, swelling of the subglottic space also very quickly develops, narrowing the airways. At the level of the 4-5 thoracic vertebrae, the trachea is divided into two main bronchi - the right and left, through which air flows to the right and left lungs, respectively. Here's the second feature: right main bronchus is like a continuation of the trachea, moving to the side at an angle of only 25-30 degrees, while the left one moves at an angle of 45-60 degrees. That is why most often foreign bodies of the respiratory tract enter the generation of the right main bronchus. The right main bronchus is divided into three bronchi: the upper, middle and lower lobe bronchi. The left main bronchus is divided into two bronchi: the upper and lower lobe. Most often, foreign bodies end up in the right lower lobe bronchus.

According to the mechanism of obstruction (counteraction normal operation) respiratory tract foreign bodies differ in:

* non-obstructive lumen. Air passes freely past the foreign body during inhalation and exhalation. * completely obstructing the lumen. The air doesn't get through at all. * obstructing the lumen like a “valve”. On inhalation, air passes past the foreign body into the lung, and on exhalation, the foreign body blocks the lumen, thereby preventing air from leaving the lung.

Foreign bodies also differ in the method of fixation.

A fixed foreign body sits firmly in the lumen of the bronchus and practically does not move during breathing.

A floating foreign body is not fixed in the lumen and can move from one part during breathing respiratory system to another. Its movement can be heard with a phonendoscope in the form of “popping” when breathing. Sometimes it can be heard even from a distance. In addition, a floating foreign body is also dangerous because when it strikes from below vocal cords persistent laryngospasm occurs, leading in itself to almost complete closure of the lumen of the larynx.

Foreign bodies can enter any part of the respiratory tract. But in terms of localization the most dangerous place- This is the larynx and trachea. Foreign bodies in this area can completely block the air supply. If you don't provide immediate help, then death occurs in 1-2 minutes.

For young children, the most dangerous situation is when a foreign body gets stuck between the folds of the glottis. The child cannot make a single sound. This is explained by the fact that a spasm of the glottis occurs, which can lead to respiratory arrest and suffocation. The child develops cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the mucous membranes and facial skin.

The fact that an adult or child is choking becomes clear from a sudden cough. At the same time, the person’s face turns red and tears appear in his eyes. And those around you readily hit you on the back with their fists. More often, of course, the crumb that got into the “wrong throat” is removed with a cough. But what if it’s not a crumb, but, say, a piece of sausage, an apple, or a fruit seed? Then, with each blow of a fist on the back, this piece will move further into the respiratory tract. Normal breathing in this case, it will change to stridor, that is, breathing with a characteristic wheeze on inspiration and with the participation of the muscles of the face, neck and chest. But not only does the piece block the air supply. It also irritates the mucous membrane of the larynx or trachea, and this, in turn, leads to their swelling and copious discharge and accumulation of mucus. If the foreign body also has sharp edges, such as a plum pit, then it injures the mucous membrane and blood is added to the mucus. The victim’s condition is getting worse right before our eyes. The face, red at first, turns blue, the veins in the neck swell, a wheezing sound is heard when inhaling, and the depression of the supra- and subclavian fossae is visible. Coughing movements become less and less frequent, and movements become more and more sluggish. And very quickly the person loses consciousness. This condition is called blue asphyxia.

If the victim is not quickly given help, then blue asphyxia will turn into the stage of pale asphyxia in a few minutes. Skin will become pale with a grayish tint, the reaction of the pupils to light and the pulse to carotid artery. In other words, it will come clinical death.

How to provide first aid in such a situation?

Firstly, you should not waste time examining the oral cavity. Secondly, do not try to reach the foreign body with your fingers or tweezers. If it is a piece of food, sausage or an apple, for example, then under the influence of saliva it will soften so much that when you try to get it out, it will simply fall apart into smaller pieces. And one or more of these small pieces, when inhaled, will again enter the respiratory tract.

But, no matter what the victim chokes on, the first thing to do is turn him over on his stomach and throw him over the back of a chair, if he is an adult, or over his own thigh, if he is a child. Then you need to hit him several times with an open palm on the back between the shoulder blades. You cannot strike with a fist or the edge of your palm.

If Small child choked on a ball or pea, you need to quickly turn it upside down and tap it on the back several times at the level of the shoulder blades with an open palm. In this case, the “Pinocchio effect” will work. It will look the same as in the fairy tale about Pinocchio, when money was shaken out of him. If, after several strikes with your palm, the foreign body does not fall to the floor, then another method should be used.

But if a child chokes on a coin-shaped object, for example, a button, then another method must be used, since the one described above will not justify itself in this case, since the “piggy bank effect” is triggered. If you had a piggy bank as a child, remember how you tried to shake coins out of it. There is enough noise and ringing, but the coins do not want to fall out of the piggy bank, because they cannot stand on their own edge and roll around flat on themselves. This is how a flat and coin-shaped foreign body blocks the airways. We need to force him to change his position. To do this, you should use the method of shaking the chest. As a result of the shock, the foreign body will either rotate around its axis and open a passage for air, or move down the trachea and eventually end up in one of the bronchi. This will give the victim the opportunity to breathe with at least one lung.

There are several ways to shake the chest. The most common and effective of them is short, frequent blows with an open palm on the back in the interscapular area.

There is another method, which in Russia is called the “American police method.” I’ll say right away that I don’t know why it’s called that. In America this technique is called the Heimlich method. This method has two options.

First option

You need to stand behind the choking person, take him by the shoulders and pull him away from you at arm's length. Then sharply and forcefully hit his back against your own chest. This blow can be repeated several times. This option has one drawback. The chest against which the victim must be hit must be flat and masculine.

Second option

When using this option, you must also stand behind the victim. But in this case, you need to grab it with your hands so that your folded hands are below the victim’s xiphoid process. Then, with a sharp movement, you need to press hard on the diaphragm and at the same time hit the victim against your chest.

Both of these methods can be used if the victim is conscious. But at the same time, one must be prepared for the fact that the victim will develop a state of clinical death. Therefore, immediately after the blow, you should not unclench your hands, so as to prevent the victim from falling in case of cardiac arrest.

The same method, when applied to small children, should be performed as follows:

1. Place the baby on a hard surface on his back, tilt his head back, lift his chin; 2. Place two fingers of one hand on the child’s top part abdomen, between the xiphoid process and the navel, and quickly press deep and upward. The movement must be strong enough to remove foreign object; 3. If the first time is not enough, then repeat the procedure up to four times.

Help for older children:

If blows to the back do not help, then sit the child on your lap, placing one of your hands on his stomach. Clench this hand into a fist, resting it inside, where your thumb is, in the middle of his stomach, and with your other hand hold the child behind his back. Quickly press your fist into your stomach a little upward and as deep as possible. The movement must be strong to dislodge the stuck object. Repeat pressing up to four times.

If the choking person falls into a coma, you must immediately turn him over onto his right side and hit him on the back with your palm several times. But, unfortunately, as a rule, these actions do not bring success.

Until next time!

What to do if you choked, how to properly help the victim, and how to help yourself?

Foreign body in the respiratory tract: how to recognize

How to recognize if a person has a foreign body stuck in the respiratory tract? Here are some main signs:

. The victim has a cough, watery eyes and redness of the face.
Difficulty breathing. Sometimes there is almost no breathing, and cyanosis may appear around the lips.
. This is the final stage in which the victim stops breathing. After some time, cardiac arrest is possible, followed by clinical death. If a person loses consciousness, they should immediately provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

First aid for a foreign body in the respiratory tract

The first thing you need to understand is to determine whether a person is breathing or not. If the victim is breathing at all, you should tell him to cough harder. Often these words (and the corresponding actions of the victim) are enough for a small foreign body to come out of the respiratory tract on its own. If within 30 seconds a person was unable to breathe, then it should be used. What does it consist of?

You should stand behind the victim.
Grasp the victim's torso with both hands. Cover your fist with the palm of your left hand right hand. Now knuckle thumb With your right hand, make five strong pressures on the upper abdomen. The direction should be up and towards you. If the foreign body is removed, the victim’s breathing will be restored.

The Heimlich method is carried out until the foreign body leaves the respiratory tract. If during these activities the victim loses consciousness, then the Heimlich method should be stopped and cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started instead.

To understand what happens when you choke, you must first understand how it works. back wall throat. Everything you eat and the air you breathe passes through your throat to enter your body.

Food and liquid pass through the larynx into the esophagus and then into the stomach. The air goes down into another branch - the trachea or windpipe, and from there it enters the lungs. Both of these pathways begin at the back of the throat.

And if both holes are open, how does food get into one and air into the other? Luckily for us, our body is in control. Next to the trachea is the epiglottis, which comes into action every time you swallow. It closes the “little door”, which prevents food from entering the respiratory tract, and directs it along the esophagus to the stomach.

But if you laugh or talk while eating, the epiglottis does not have time to close in time. Food particles may slide down and enter the trachea. If the particles are small, your body will easily dislodge them from wrong place, forcing you .

Heimlich method in children

If a foreign body is stuck in the respiratory tract of a child under 1 year old, then the rescuer needs to sit down and place the child on the left forearm face down. Lower jaw The baby should be held with fingers folded into a claw. Then, with the heel of your palm, you need to apply five blows of medium strength with the heel of your palm to the area between the shoulder blades.

At the second stage of helping a child in case of foreign bodies, turn the child face up on the right forearm. Then apply five jerking movements along the sternum to a point located 1 finger below the internipple line. Do not press too hard to avoid damaging the baby's ribs.

When food goes down the wrong throat

Everyone has had to face this problem. You take a sip and realize that the food has gone down the wrong throat. Then a cough begins, sometimes panic, but, as a rule, everything stops within a few seconds. This happens because coughing is the body’s natural defense against foreign bodies entering the trachea. Thanks to coughing, our body manages to get rid of “stray” pieces of food or other foreign particles that accidentally enter the trachea.

But when the amount of food or its size is significant, suffocation may occur because food product or another object completely blocks the airways and air cannot pass through them into the lungs. In this case, the person can no longer get rid of the foreign body by coughing and stops breathing, speaking, or even making any sounds. Typically, when faced with such a situation, the victim grabs his throat and/or begins to wave his arms. If the trachea remains blocked for a long time, the person's face changes color from bright red to blue.

Our body needs oxygen to support vital processes. When oxygen does not reach the lungs and brain for some time, a person may lose consciousness, and as a result long absence access to oxygen occurs in the brain irreversible changes, as a result of which a person may die.

What to do if someone is choking?

Respiratory arrest is a life-threatening condition. If you are trained in the Heimlich technique, provide assistance immediately. If there is someone present who has a skill, give him the opportunity to help the victim. If the technique is not performed correctly, you can harm the person and cause them pain. If the victim has stopped breathing and lost consciousness, the Heimlich maneuver should be performed simultaneously with (CPR).

Simple precautions

Be especially careful when you eat certain products which are easy to choke on. These are: nuts, grapes, raw carrots, popcorn and hard or sticky candies.
Try to eat while sitting, bite off food in small pieces, and chew slowly. Don't try to talk with your mouth full. Remember, it's not even about good manners, but about preventing suffocation.
Supervise small children. Babies love to put things in their mouths and taste different things. Try to keep your baby safe and keep small objects out of your baby's reach.
Learn the Heimlich maneuver. They can tell you about this in first aid classes. It would be useful for any person to have this skill. Who knows? Perhaps you will have to become the savior when one of your loved ones or acquaintances chokes!