Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death, including choking on water. Yes, it is possible to choke on water. This can happen when water is accidentally inhaled into the windpipe instead of being swallowed into the esophagus. This can lead to coughing and difficulty breathing. Here are first aid steps on how to relieve choking on water:
- Assess the Situation: Assess the severity of the situation. Is the person coughing forcefully or able to breathe, even if it's difficult?
- Encourage Coughing: If the person is coughing, encourage them to keep coughing. Coughing is the body's natural way of clearing the airway. Do not forcefully pat the person on the back. This can sometimes push the water further down the airway.
- Perform the Heimlich Maneuver: If coughing doesn't work, perform Heimlich maneuver until the water is expelled, and the person can breathe or cough effectively.
- Perform CPR: If the person loses consciousness, begin CPR immediately if the person is not breathing.
- Monitor and Provide Support After the water is expelled, and the person can breathe, monitor them closely. They may still be at risk of complications like pneumonia or shock.
Assess the Situation
Start by quickly assessing the severity of the situation. Look for signs of choking, such as the person clutching their throat or displaying difficulty speaking or breathing. Observe if the person is coughing forcefully or if they're struggling to breathe, even if it's challenging. Additionally, check their overall condition, including their skin color (if it's turning bluish) and their responsiveness.
Encourage Coughing
If the person is actively coughing, provide immediate reassurance and urge them to continue coughing. Explain that coughing is the body's natural mechanism for clearing the airway of foreign objects, including water. Stress the importance of forceful coughing as it provides the best chance of expelling the water from their airway.
It's essential to avoid forcefully patting the person on the back. While this might be the instinctual response, it can sometimes push the water further down the airway and worsen the situation. Stay with the person and offer verbal support to help them remain calm and focused on coughing.
Perform the Heimlich Maneuver
If the person cannot cough effectively and is not breathing, it's time to perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts):
- Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
- Place a fist slightly above the navel but below the ribcage.
- Grab your fist with your other hand.
- Give quick, upward thrusts into the abdomen. The goal is to force the water and any obstructing material out of the airway.
- Repeat these thrusts until the water is expelled and the person can breathe or cough effectively.
Perform CPR
If the person loses consciousness and is not breathing, it's crucial to initiate CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation immediately.
- Begin CPR with chest compressions. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the person's chest, just below the nipple line. Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers.
- Use your body weight to perform chest compressions, pressing the chest down at least 2 inches deep and at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
- After every 30 chest compressions, give two rescue breaths. Tilt the person's head back slightly to open the airway, pinch their nose shut, and provide a breath lasting about one second.
- Continue this cycle of chest compressions and rescue breaths until help arrives, the person starts breathing alone, or you are too exhausted to continue.
Monitor and Provide Support
Once the water is expelled, and the person can breathe or cough effectively, stay by their side and offer reassurance. Continuously monitor their condition, watching for any signs of respiratory distress, such as labored breathing or changes in skin color. Be prepared to seek immediate medical attention, even if the person seems fully recovered, as water aspiration can lead to complications like pneumonia.
Additionally, provide emotional support as the person may feel shaken or anxious following the choking episode. Encourage them to remain calm and reassure them that they are safe and receiving appropriate care.