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# Breathing
## Choking
(IMG) Choking person
When food or something else gets stuck in the throat or airway and a
person cannot breathe, this is choking.
If the person is coughing, let them continue coughing but if they
cannot talk or cannot cough, you can save a life by helping quickly.
Give back blows
(IMG) Back blows
Bend him over at the waist, and give 5 firm blows on the middle of
the back, between the shoulder blades. Use the palm of your hand.
If this does not work: Give abdominal thrusts
(IMG) Abdominal thrusts
Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around his waist.
Put your fist against his belly, just above the navel and below the
ribs.
Cover your fist with your other hand and use both hands to pull up
and in with a sudden, strong jerk. Use enough force to lift the
person off his feet. (Use less force on a small child.) Repeat this
5 times in a row.
If there is something blocking air from getting to the lungs or
throat, the force of air being pushed so hard should drive it out.
For a pregnant woman or someone who is very fat, put your arms around
the middle chest (put your fist between the breasts). Then thrust
straight in.
## If the person is choking and becomes unconscious
Carefully lay him on his back and look in the mouth. If you can see
food or something else blocking the throat, sweep it out with a
hooked finger. But do not dig into the throat as this may drive the
object in further. Then give rescue breathing.
## For a baby younger than one year
If a baby is choking and cannot cry or cough, try to clear her throat
with back blows and chest thrusts.
Position the baby
Hold the baby face down with her head lower than her body.
Give back blows
(IMG) Baby back blows
Use the heel of your hand to give 5 firm blows between the shoulder
blades.
If the baby does not start breathing, turn her over.
Give chest thrusts
(IMG) Baby chest thrusts
Put 2 or 3 fingers in the center of the chest – just below the
nipples.
Use a firm, quick movement to push the chest down about 2
centimeters. Do this 5 times or until the baby breathes.
If you cannot clear the airway for a baby, child, or adult, give
rescue breathing.
## Drowning
Get the person out of the water as fast as you can and immediately
start rescue breathing and chest compressions. Give the rescue
breaths first to get some air into the person's body.
(DIR) chest compressions
If the person vomits, turn him on his side and gently use your finger
or a cloth to wipe the vomit away so he does not choke on it.
## Rescue breathing
People can only live about 4 minutes without breathing. You may be
able to save someone's life with rescue breaths if he stopped
breathing because he choked, was hit on the head, almost drowned, was
electrocuted, overdosed on drugs, or has hypothermia (extreme cold).
If a person stops breathing, you can save his life by giving rescue
breathing immediately.
Postion his head
(IMG) Position head
Lay the person face up. Lift the chin and push on the forehead to
tilt the head back so his nose is pointing straight up.
Give rescue breaths
(IMG) Rescue breaths
Pinch his nose closed so air does not escape that way.
Cover his mouth completely with yours.
Give 2 strong, slow breaths.
The chest should rise with each breath. If it does not, the air is
not getting into the lungs. Reposition the head slightly and try
again. Let the person breathe out after each breath.
Check for a pulse
(IMG) Check pulse
After 2 breaths, check if he is breathing. Feel for a pulse on
either side of the neck, or listen to the chest, right over the heart.
If there is no pulse
If there is no pulse, see the entry on "No Heartbeat".
If you do feel or hear a pulse
If you do feel or hear a pulse, keep giving breaths until he breathes
on his own. It may take 30 minutes or more.
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