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Facts about Choking​

  • Choking is the fourth leading cause of accidental death in the U.S

  • One child every five days dies of choking on food.

  • It only takes 4 minutes without air for brain damage to occur while choking.

  • The Heimlich Maneuver was created in 1974

What to do if someone's choking​

  1. Make sure the person is choking: Their hands might clutch their throat (Universal Choking Sign), they might have trouble breathing, they might be coughing or gagging, their lips and fingertips might turn blue or they might lose conciousness.

  2. Shout for someone to call the emergency services (112 in Europe or 911 in America)

  3. Begin the Heimlich Maneuver: Step 1: Wrap your forefingers around your thumb, forming a fist. Step 2: Wrap your arms around the person who is choking. Step 3: Place your fist on the diaphragm, between the ribs. Step 4: Wrap your other hand around the fist. Step 5: Thrust upwards until the item is spat out.

  4. Stop the Heimlich Maneuver

  5. Tell the person who was choking to go to see a doctor in case any interior damage was made.

Learn more

http://www.usagso.org/en/our-council/who-we-are.html

  • About the Heimlich Maneuver, visit:

 https://www.healthline.com/health/heimlich-maneuver

 https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637​

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