Unconscious Choking Victim

When a conscious choking victim becomes unconscious, activate EMS. The first thing you should do to the victim is the “Tongue Jaw Lift”. With your index finger under the victim’s chin, place your thumb in the victim’s mouth just far enough to grab the jaw and lift it up. This will allow you to see into the victim’s mouth and perhaps see the obstruction. If the victim is an adult you should do a blind finger sweep. While holding the mouth open with the Tongue Jaw Lift, take your index finger of your other hand, reach into the back of the victim’s mouth and sweep from one side to the other. NEVER DO A BLIND FINGER SWEEP ON A CHILD OR INFANT. Then attempt to open the victim’s airway with the Head Tilt Chin Lift and give a breath. If it doesn’t go in, reposition the head and give another breath. If that does not go in, straddle the victim’s knees and give 5 abdominal thrusts with the heals of your palms in the same location as the conscious victim.