ACMESkydiver 0 #1 October 11, 2007 I've stopped shaking enough to type finally. Joe was taking a vitamin (one of those big horse pills) and it lodged in his throat. He was leaning over the sink coughing and trying to get it up...he could barely cough out 'I'm choking'. He was trying to cough and tried to stick his finger down his throat to get his gag reflex to throw it up...meanwhile he's just drooling and turning a deep purple. I tried hitting him on the back (I KNOW you're not supposed to do that, but WTF I couldn't stand there) I was going to do the Heimlich if he passed out but he was still gagging and trying to cough himself, and I remembered reading that you only do the heimlich when there is complete airway obstruction. So my husband is turning purple, his eyes are watering and he's drooling trying to get this pill out of his airway. And I can't help him. He finally manages to cough this huge vitamin up, and everyone is freaked out by this whole scenario, of course. I searched for info on partial airway obstruction/choking, and I am reading that there is nothing to do?! Really?? You can do nothing until they pass out or can't breathe at all?! You would literally have to watch someone terrified that they cannot breathe and do nothing? Good Lord my heart cannot take this shit. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NtheSeaOrSky 0 #2 October 11, 2007 First, thankfully he is OK now! Second, imagine that with a 1200 pound horse who can't understand what is going on and flinging itself all over the place I never knew you couldn't give Heimlich for a partial obstruction, what was the reasoning they gave behind it? Life is not fair and there are no guarantees... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #3 October 11, 2007 Quote First, thankfully he is OK now! Second, imagine that with a 1200 pound horse who can't understand what is going on and flinging itself all over the place I never knew you couldn't give Heimlich for a partial obstruction, what was the reasoning they gave behind it? The first aid websites I saw say that the victim has a better chance of dislodging it themselves, even if they are panicking. -And you may end up forcing them to suck it in further if you attempt to help.~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #4 October 11, 2007 I thought, the Heimlich maneuver was the thing to do in a situation like that? Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NtheSeaOrSky 0 #5 October 11, 2007 YIKES!! I would just assume if they couldn't move air well it would be *worth* the risk - but not a great decision to have to make. My freaked out ass prolly woulda called 911 you know in a voice 10 octaves higher than normal Life is not fair and there are no guarantees... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #6 October 11, 2007 Quote I thought, the Heimlich maneuver was the thing to do in a situation like that? Chuck So did I... Hopefully one of our DZ.com docs or EMT's will check in and give us the latest straight from the horse's mouth...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sartre 0 #7 October 11, 2007 I'm not a doc nor an EMT, but I do have to keep current with CPR/Rescue breathing and first aid. If someone can tell you that they're choking, they're still able to get air into the lungs. It's scary as hell to watch, I'm sure, but you did the right thing. Fact is, he was able to cough up the obstruction, and all was well. If it had gotten worse, then you could have done the Heimlich. Scary stuff!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #8 October 11, 2007 Thank you for the info...glad I guess I did the right thing, but it's scary that I didn't know. Guess I wasn't the only one, either...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #9 October 11, 2007 For Partial Airway Obstruction. As long as the person is still exchanging air i.e. can still cough and squeek out some words do nothing. andy attempt to do something may lodge the object into the airway and make it a complete forigen body airway obstruction. Do not use a blind finger sweet as you can push the object down further. Also do not try to touch your gag reflex. Once the airway totally occludes then you should administer abdominal thrusts or as they call it the Heimlick Manuver. If the victim goes unconscious call 911 and start CPR. Each time that you go to give breaths open the mouth and look for the object. If you can grab it grab it. If not continue CPR as normal. Once the victim is unconscious the muscles in the airway may relax and allow for air passage. I am a CPR/First Aid Instructor as well as an EMT. Now technically they say you should seek care after the total occlusion of the airway has been cleared just to be sure there is no damage to the airway.Divot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman32 0 #10 October 11, 2007 After many years of EMS... If they are coughing. Let them continue to cough. They are moving air Heimlich only if they aren't moving air (i.e no coughing, no talking) or passed out. Please, Please, Please, don't try to make them drink or eat anything to "push it down" Inveniam Viam aut Faciam I'm back biatches! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #11 October 11, 2007 cool...thank you for the info! Well, no it isn't cool. It sucks. You have to just sit there and watch your husband turn purple. ...but if it's the best thing... ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broke 0 #12 October 11, 2007 Pretty much a wait till you can do something kind of thingDivot your source for all things Hillbilly. Anvil Brother 84 SCR 14192 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman32 0 #13 October 11, 2007 Wrote at the same time. Go with what Broke said Inveniam Viam aut Faciam I'm back biatches! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #14 October 11, 2007 Quote Quote I thought, the Heimlich maneuver was the thing to do in a situation like that? Chuck So did I... Hopefully one of our DZ.com docs or EMT's will check in and give us the latest straight from the horse's mouth... Looks like, we're getting some 'real' info!Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sartre 0 #15 October 11, 2007 Which is different from what I said how?! (rolling eyes smiley) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,314 #16 October 11, 2007 Needle or Surgical cricothyroidectomy.Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
base283 0 #17 October 11, 2007 I knew that vitamins were bad for ya! Take care, space Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxx 1 #18 October 11, 2007 Don't take those feking vitamin pills!! You american people really have to learn this.. Vitamins from fruits and vegetables are MUCH BETTER and much easier to swallow! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #19 October 11, 2007 Quote Needle or Surgical cricothyroidectomy. Well I was in the kitchen and could have gotten a paring knife...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #20 October 11, 2007 Quote Don't take those feking vitamin pills!! You american people really have to learn this.. Vitamins from fruits and vegetables are MUCH BETTER and much easier to swallow! I can't function without my high-speed vitamins. I think Joe better learn to, though. That or I'll start crushing his like I crush the boys' medicine pills...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chaoskitty 0 #21 October 11, 2007 Put that man on flintstones chewables! Jesus Jaye that was scary! I felt kind of the same way last week. I was at my parents, taking care of my mom who had just come out of surgery. My dad drank something that went down the wrong way and was coughing, turning purple, trying to talk, but he was coughing. Thought he was going to cough up his guts. I couldn't do a damn thing other than wait for him to cough it up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SARLDO 0 #22 October 11, 2007 Allow me to add here that it might not be a bad idea to get some help moving your way and call 911 when somthing like this happens. You can always say "never mind" when the obstruction is cleared but, if not the case, your wasting time and the folks who answer the call can usually help out quite a bit."Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest" ~Samuel Clemens MB#4300 Dudeist Skydiver #68 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Armour666 0 #23 October 11, 2007 QuoteFor Partial Airway Obstruction. As long as the person is still exchanging air i.e. can still cough and squeek out some words do nothing. andy attempt to do something may lodge the object into the airway and make it a complete forigen body airway obstruction. Do not use a blind finger sweet as you can push the object down further. Also do not try to touch your gag reflex. Once the airway totally occludes then you should administer abdominal thrusts or as they call it the Heimlick Manuver. If the victim goes unconscious call 911 and start CPR. Each time that you go to give breaths open the mouth and look for the object. If you can grab it grab it. If not continue CPR as normal. Once the victim is unconscious the muscles in the airway may relax and allow for air passage. I am a CPR/First Aid Instructor as well as an EMT. Now technically they say you should seek care after the total occlusion of the airway has been cleared just to be sure there is no damage to the airway. Glad he's ok, thats scarry thing to happen. I was told one of the reasons for not doing abnormal thrusts on a partial is because you are using the air of the lungs to thrust the object out and that a partial would be allowing to much air to pass to dislodge the obstruction so you would be performing the maneuver with no real effect. Plus there is always a chance of causing injuries performing abnormal thrusts so it should not be done unnecessarily.SO this one time at band camp..... "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #24 October 11, 2007 Quote Put that man on flintstones chewables! Jesus Jaye that was scary! Quote I felt kind of the same way last week. I was at my parents, taking care of my mom who had just come out of surgery. My dad drank something that went down the wrong way and was coughing, turning purple, trying to talk, but he was coughing. Thought he was going to cough up his guts. I couldn't do a damn thing other than wait for him to cough it up. Man that sucks...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #25 October 11, 2007 QuoteAllow me to add here that it might not be a bad idea to get some help moving your way and call 911 when somthing like this happens. You can always say "never mind" when the obstruction is cleared but, if not the case, your wasting time and the folks who answer the call can usually help out quite a bit. Good thought, thank you.~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
