For choking in obese or pregnant victims, if you cannot wrap your arms around the waist, which thrust is recommended?

For choking in obese or pregnant victims, if you cannot wrap your arms around the waist, which thrust is recommended?

• A. Abdominal thrust
• B. Chest thrust
• C. Back blows
• D. No thrust

Answer: (B)

When someone is choking, you want to create a sudden increase in pressure to pop the object free. For an obese or pregnant person, abdominal thrusts aren’t feasible or safe because you can’t wrap around the waist without risking injury to the mother or fetus. Chest thrusts are the safer, recommended alternative. They focus force on the chest to raise intrathoracic pressure and help expel the obstruction. The idea is to deliver quick, firm thrusts to the center of the chest (instead of the abdomen) and continue until the blockage is dislodged or the person can breathe or cough again. Back blows aren’t the primary method here for an adult choking, and doing nothing isn’t an option when there’s an airway obstruction. If the person becomes unresponsive, start CPR.

When someone is choking, you want to create a sudden increase in pressure to pop the object free. For an obese or pregnant person, abdominal thrusts aren’t feasible or safe because you can’t wrap around the waist without risking injury to the mother or fetus. Chest thrusts are the safer, recommended alternative. They focus force on the chest to raise intrathoracic pressure and help expel the obstruction. The idea is to deliver quick, firm thrusts to the center of the chest (instead of the abdomen) and continue until the blockage is dislodged or the person can breathe or cough again. Back blows aren’t the primary method here for an adult choking, and doing nothing isn’t an option when there’s an airway obstruction. If the person becomes unresponsive, start CPR.