News
Red Cross expands choking treatment
By Jane Weaver jweaver@cecilwhig.com
The Heimlich maneuver is a time-tested successful way to help choking victims remove windpipe blockages.
But a recent report in the Cecil Whig brought to light changes in the recommended procedures to aid a choking victim.
Seven-year-old William Richmond of Elkton rescued his brother Mark from choking during a camping trip last month using the method — the standard procedure for about 30 years.
Standing behind the victim, a person wraps his arms around the victim’s ribs and pulls in an upward motion. This abdominal thrust forces the food or other object out of the windpipe, freeing the flow of air to the lungs.
But the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula announced recently that it has expanded that course of action to include back blows.
“There has been a change in the techniques taught by the Red Cross,” said Marilyn Deen, director of volunteer services and communications for the chapter that serves Cecil County.
Deen said the Red Cross takes advice from the American Advisory Council of First Aid and Safety.
“Every five years, these experts come together and reassess information we use,” she said.
Deen said the council examined data from many different sources and concluded that the abdominal thrusts — Deen said the Red Cross doesn’t use the term “Heimlich maneuver” — should be taught along with the back blows. The choking treatment is a cycle of back blows and abdominal thrusts. When conducted correctly, Deen said the choking victim is revived.
“Do the back blows first … with the person at a 45 degree angle … and then the abdominal thrusts,” Deen said.
The key, she said, is to remember “5 and 5.” Perform five back blows followed by five thrusts.
Firm blows with the heel of the hand directed between the shoulder blades work best, Deen said. For the thrusts, the victim should be leaned forward at the waist about 8 inches. For adults the thrusts are directed at the area in the center of the ribcage toward the bottom, where the bones meet.
Deen said the technique is the same for children. For infants, however, the thrusts are directed at the chest and are conducted with less force.
“The best way to learn the skill is to come take the course,” Deen said.
The decision to change the technique was made at the beginning of the year, but Deen said it only became policy in August.
“The main part is the training of the people. They literally have to be retrained,” she said.
The back blows had fallen out of favor in the early 1970s when some doctors believed the blows would only lodge the obstruction farther into the windpipe. Deen said the medical community now believes if the back blows are handled correctly, in concert with the abdominal thrusts, that choking can better be stopped.
What to Look For
The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn’t give the signal, look for these indications:
Inability to talk
Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
Inability to cough forcefully
Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky
Loss of consciousness
To sign up for a Red Cross First Aid course, which would include choking rescue techniques, go to www.redcrossdelmarva.org.
But a recent report in the Cecil Whig brought to light changes in the recommended procedures to aid a choking victim.
Seven-year-old William Richmond of Elkton rescued his brother Mark from choking during a camping trip last month using the method — the standard procedure for about 30 years.
Standing behind the victim, a person wraps his arms around the victim’s ribs and pulls in an upward motion. This abdominal thrust forces the food or other object out of the windpipe, freeing the flow of air to the lungs.
But the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula announced recently that it has expanded that course of action to include back blows.
“There has been a change in the techniques taught by the Red Cross,” said Marilyn Deen, director of volunteer services and communications for the chapter that serves Cecil County.
Deen said the Red Cross takes advice from the American Advisory Council of First Aid and Safety.
“Every five years, these experts come together and reassess information we use,” she said.
Deen said the council examined data from many different sources and concluded that the abdominal thrusts — Deen said the Red Cross doesn’t use the term “Heimlich maneuver” — should be taught along with the back blows. The choking treatment is a cycle of back blows and abdominal thrusts. When conducted correctly, Deen said the choking victim is revived.
“Do the back blows first … with the person at a 45 degree angle … and then the abdominal thrusts,” Deen said.
The key, she said, is to remember “5 and 5.” Perform five back blows followed by five thrusts.
Firm blows with the heel of the hand directed between the shoulder blades work best, Deen said. For the thrusts, the victim should be leaned forward at the waist about 8 inches. For adults the thrusts are directed at the area in the center of the ribcage toward the bottom, where the bones meet.
Deen said the technique is the same for children. For infants, however, the thrusts are directed at the chest and are conducted with less force.
“The best way to learn the skill is to come take the course,” Deen said.
The decision to change the technique was made at the beginning of the year, but Deen said it only became policy in August.
“The main part is the training of the people. They literally have to be retrained,” she said.
The back blows had fallen out of favor in the early 1970s when some doctors believed the blows would only lodge the obstruction farther into the windpipe. Deen said the medical community now believes if the back blows are handled correctly, in concert with the abdominal thrusts, that choking can better be stopped.
What to Look For
The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn’t give the signal, look for these indications:
Inability to talk
Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
Inability to cough forcefully
Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky
Loss of consciousness
To sign up for a Red Cross First Aid course, which would include choking rescue techniques, go to www.redcrossdelmarva.org.
Copyright © 2009 - Cecil Whig