Choking Flashcard 3
Rationale
B. Rationale: For a child requiring the Heimlich maneuver, the rescuer is positioned behind the patient but with one knee bent so that the rescuer is at the level of the child’s abdomen and can properly perform the maneuver.
Question
When performing the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) on a child, where should the rescuer stand relative to the patient?
a. The rescuer must be positioned beside the patient and kneeling on one knee.
b. The rescuer must be positioned behind the patient and kneeling on one knee.
c. The rescuer must be positioned in front of the patient and kneeling on one knee.
d. The rescuer should not perform the Heimlich maneuver on a child.
Answer
b. The rescuer must be positioned behind the patient and kneeling on one knee.
Rationale
B. Rationale: The beginning of the Heimlich maneuver requires the rescuer to stand behind the patient to wrap their arms around the patient’s abdomen in preparation for abdominal thrusts.
Question
When performing the Heimlich maneuver, where should the rescuer stand relative to the patient?
a. The rescuer must stand beside the patient.
b. The rescuer must stand behind the patient.
c. The rescuer must stand in front of the patient.
d. The rescuer must stand on top of the patient.
Answer
b. The rescuer must stand behind the patient.
Rationale
B. Rationale: The tripod position is commonly seen in choking patients in which they are hunched over with arms on the thighs. The tripod position should alert the rescuer that the patient is choking.
Question
Which one of the following signs indicates that the patient is choking?
a. Recovery position
b. Tripod position
c. Trendelenburg position
d. Supine position
Answer
b. Tripod position
Rationale
D. Rationale: The xiphoid process is a small bone just below the sternum. The rescuer must find the patient’s xiphoid process and use this as a landmark. The rescuer’s hand must make a fist with the thumb against the patient’s abdomen three finger-lengths below the xiphoid process.
Question
Which part of the patient’s body is the landmark for doing abdominal thrusts when performing the Heimlich maneuver?
a. Clavicle
b. Belly button
c. Ribs
d. Xiphoid process
Answer
d. Xiphoid process
Rationale
A. Rationale: The steps for performing chest thrusts in an infant patient who is choking with a persistent obstruction are as follows: from the back-slap are to turn the baby face-up, keeping the baby’s body rested against your arm, and support the baby’s neck with your arm. Make sure to keep the baby’s head down, and perform the chest thrusts using your index and middle fingers to compress the chest about 1.5 inches in depth.
Question
Which statement is true regarding positioning a choking infant for performing chest thrusts?
a. From the back-slap position, turn the baby face up. Keep the baby’s body rested against your arm, and support the baby’s neck with your arm. Keep the baby’s head down, and perform the chest thrusts using your index and middle fingers, compressing the chest about 1.5 inches in depth.
b. Hold the baby by the armpits and ask another person to perform the chest thrusts using their index and middle fingers to compress the chest about 1.5 inches in depth.
c. Hold the baby down on a flat surface and perform the chest thrusts using your index and middle fingers, compressing the chest about 1.5 inches in depth.
d. From the back-slap position, keep the baby turned face down and perform the chest thrusts using your index and middle fingers to compress the chest about 1.5 inches in depth.
Answer
a. From the back-slap position, turn the baby face up. Keep the baby’s body rested against your arm, and support the baby’s neck with your arm. Keep the baby’s head down, and perform the chest thrusts using your index and middle fingers, compressing the chest about 1.5 inches in depth.
Rationale
B. Rationale: The steps in performing back slaps in a choking infant is to hold the baby by the jaw, cradle the baby across your arm with the jaw on the hand of the cradling arm, position the baby head down at a 45-degree angle. The back slaps are performed using the heel of your hand to slap the center of the baby’s back between the scapula 5 times.
Question
Which statement is true regarding positioning a choking infant patient for back slaps?
a. Hold the baby by the armpits and ask another person to slap the center of the baby’s back between the scapula 5 times.
b. Hold the baby by the jaw, cradle the baby across your arm, position the baby head down, perform the back slap using the heel of your hand to slap the center of baby’s back between the scapula 5 times.
c. Hold the baby by the chest, cradle the baby across your arm, position the baby’s head up, perform the back slap using the heel of your hand to slap the center of baby’s back between the scapula 5 times.
d. Hold the baby by the ankle and ask another person to slap the center of baby’s back between the scapula 5 times.
Answer
b. Hold the baby by the jaw, cradle the baby across your arm, position the baby head down, perform the back slap using the heel of your hand to slap the center of baby’s back between the scapula 5 times.
Rationale
B. Rationale: The first step in helping a choking patient is to confirm that they are indeed choking, and once confirmed, immediately ask someone to call EMS.
Question
You are a trained lay rescuer eating in a restaurant when you hear a commotion two tables away. You see a middle-aged man hunched over with a panic-stricken face. You notice his hands are at his throat. What will you do?
a. Immediately initiate CPR.
b. Confirm if the man is choking and ask someone to call EMS.
c. Observe the patient and see if he will get better on his own before intervening.
d. Call the police because it looks like the man has been poisoned.
Answer
b. Confirm if the man is choking and ask someone to call EMS.
Rationale
C. Rationale: The patient is in cardiac arrest. At this point, lay the patient supine (flat on the back, facing up) on the floor and perform CPR. If you haven’t done so already, have someone call 9-1-1 and retrieve an AED. Also, performing chest compressions may help remove the foreign body aspirate. When providing ventilations, open the airway, and see if the foreign body is visible. Never do a blind finger sweep as it may lodge the foreign body deeper into the patient’s respiratory tract. Only remove the foreign body if you can visualize it.
Question
You are assisting a choking patient who is unresponsive and not breathing. What intervention is necessary?
a. Heimlich maneuver
b. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
c. CPR
d. Finger-sweep
Answer
c. CPR
Rationale
C. Rationale: If the obstruction persists after performing 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts, it is recommended to give 2 rescue breaths before repeating the cycle until the paramedics arrive.
Question
You are responding to an infant who is choking and deliver back slaps and chest thrusts as recommended. After looking in the infant’s mouth and not seeing anything, you realize that the object is still lodged. The infant is struggling and still responsive. How will you proceed?
a. Monitor the infant and wait for EMS to arrive.
b. Perform CPR.
c. Give 2 rescue breaths.
d. Repeat giving the 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts.
Answer
c. Give 2 rescue breaths.
Rationale
C. Rationale: The patient is unresponsive. And since he is having abnormal breathing, it is likely that the patient is in cardiac arrest. In this situation, the lay rescuer must immediately perform CPR.
Question
You are tending to an adult patient who is choking. Upon your initial assessment, he does not respond to questions and is not breathing normally. What is your next course of action?
a. Give abdominal thrusts.
b. Give 5 back slaps.
c. Start CPR.
d. Monitor the patient.
Answer
c. Start CPR.