A victim with a foreign-body airway obstruction becomes unresponsive. What is your first course of action?
Choose the correct option and select submit.
A. ?Perform abdominal thrusts
B. ?Start CPR, ?beginning with chest compressions
C. ?Roll the victim over and perform back blows
D. ?Perform blind finger sweeps
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. Start CPR, beginning with chest compressions.
Explanation:
When a victim becomes unresponsive due to a foreign-body airway obstruction (FBAO), the priority is to restore normal breathing and circulation. The standard course of action is to begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what should be done in this situation:
- Assess the scene: Ensure the environment is safe for you to assist the victim.
- Check responsiveness: Tap the victim and shout to see if they respond. If there is no response, proceed to check for breathing.
- Check breathing: If the victim is not breathing or only gasping, you need to act immediately to help restore circulation and airflow.
- Start CPR: If the victim is unresponsive and not breathing, the correct protocol is to begin CPR. Start with chest compressions:
- Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest, just below the nipple line.
- Place the other hand on top of the first and interlock your fingers.
- Perform compressions with enough force to push the chest down about 2 inches (5 cm) at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. This helps maintain blood circulation to vital organs like the brain and heart, which is crucial when a person is not breathing. Once you begin chest compressions, you will move to rescue breaths after the first 30 compressions.
- Do not perform abdominal thrusts or back blows at this point: When a person is unresponsive, abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) or back blows are not effective because they require the person to be conscious and able to cough or gasp. Blind finger sweeps, another possible consideration, are also inappropriate in this scenario because they can push the object deeper into the airway.
- Continue CPR until help arrives or the victim starts breathing again.
By starting CPR, you focus on maintaining circulation and oxygenation until medical professionals can intervene or the obstruction is cleared. This approach aligns with established guidelines for managing unresponsive patients with suspected airway obstructions.