When a piece of food or small object suddenly blocks breathing, every second counts. And when you’re alone, panic can quickly set in. However, knowing the right actions can literally save a life. Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, details the reflexes to adopt to regain your breath before it is too late.
Wrong route: a vital emergency never to be underestimated
Sudden airway obstruction occurs when a foreign body enters the trachea instead of the esophagus. It can be caused by the inhalation of food, a foreign body, or by certain health disorders such as an epileptic seizure or a stroke. According to Health Insurance, this phenomenon results “by the abnormal passage of a solid substance (piece of food, small object, etc.) from the mouth towards the back of the throat, the larynx, the trachea or the bronchi, when this substance should have gone towards the digestive tracts: esophagus, stomach“.
The most common causes are numerous:
- Foods (seeds, peanuts, pistachios, miniature sausages, sweets for children);
- Objects (toy pieces, small round batteries, beads, pen caps);
- DIY accessories (screws, drawing pins, plastic dowels);
- Pieces of meat, fragments of teeth or medicines in the elderly.
Once the trachea is blocked, air circulation between the outside world and the lungs is partially or completely interrupted. In a few moments, the victim can lose consciousness. In France, nearly 3,000 people die each year from choking according to Public Health France.
What to do if you’re choking alone
The first reflex to adopt is to call for help. “If you choke alone, ask for help immediately (neighbor next door, office, 15th, etc.). Do not hang up so that we can locate you“, recommends Dr. Gérald Kierzek. Even if speaking is difficult, it is crucial to establish contact to allow emergency services to geolocate you.
Then, coughing remains the best reflex. “Cough heavily. If you can still cough, try to do it as hard as possible to expel the stuck object“, insists the doctor.
If coughing is not enough, you should switch to the Heimlich method applied to yourself. Dr. Kierzek explains: “To do this, place a closed fist just above your belly button, below your ribcage. Press firmly with the other hand and push inward and upward, repeating until the object dislodges. You can also use the back of a chair or the edge of a piece of furniture to perform abdominal pressure by leaning on it“.
These simple actions can make the difference before help arrives. Dr Alpa Kumar, general practitioner, also confirms this in a video posted on Instagram: these reflexes are vital when you are alone and every second counts.
Learn how to react so as not to panic
While choking is a life-threatening emergency, it can also be avoided in many cases through prevention. Eating slowly, avoiding talking or laughing with your mouth full, and supervising young children when handling small objects are all essential precautions. But the main thing remains to know the gestures that save, for yourself and for others. First aid training, available in most town halls and associations, allows you to learn the Heimlich method in practice and to reproduce it with composure.