[Medical Q&A] How to provide first aid when an elderly person chokes?

Author: Zhao Tianxue Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University

Reviewer: Zhang Wei, deputy chief nurse, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University

When an elderly person chokes, the Heimlich maneuver should be used immediately. After the elderly person spits out the foreign body, whether to seek medical attention should be determined based on the specific situation.

1. For elderly people who are conscious

(1) The rescuer stands behind the elderly person and wraps his arms around the elderly person's waist. The elderly person bends over, lowers his head, and opens his mouth so that the foreign object can be spit out.

(2) The rescuer makes a fist with one hand, with the thumb side of the fist pressed against the elderly person’s navel two finger widths above it. With the other hand, clench the fist tightly and squeeze the upper abdomen upward and backward 5 to 6 times. The squeezing action should be quick, and then release immediately.

2. For elderly people who are not conscious

(1) Let the elderly person lie flat with his head turned to one side. The rescuer straddles the elderly person's hips or kneels on one side of the elderly person.

(2) The rescuer places the base of one hand on the midline of the elderly person's abdomen, between the navel and the xiphoid process; the other hand is placed on top of it, with the bases of the two palms overlapping, and the rescuer quickly pushes downward and forward rhythmically 5 to 6 times.

(3) Check the oral cavity. If any foreign object is flushed out, quickly remove it by hand.

(4) Check the breathing and heartbeat. If the patient is still breathing and has a stable heart rate, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and call 120 for emergency medical services.