Question

Airway obstruction knowledge:

1) Witness patient should your first objective be?
2) What to ask and how to approach a patient who is possibly choking?
3) When do we simply encourage them to cough?

Answer 1

When witnessing an airway obstruction, your first objective is to recognize the situation and take immediate action. When approaching a possibly choking patient, assess their ability to speak or cough. In some cases, you can encourage them to cough, but prompt action should be taken if the obstruction worsens or they cannot breathe.

Step-by-step explanation:

When witnessing a patient experiencing an airway obstruction, your first objective should be to recognize the situation and take immediate action to help the patient. This may involve performing the Heimlich maneuver or calling for emergency medical care, depending on the severity of the obstruction.

When approaching a patient who is possibly choking, you should first ask if they are able to speak or cough. If the person can speak or cough, encourage them to continue coughing, as it may help dislodge the obstructing object. If the person cannot speak or cough, or if the coughing is ineffective, you should take prompt action to assist the person and remove the obstruction.

In some cases, when the obstruction is mild and the person is able to speak, cough, or breathe, you can encourage them to continue coughing while closely monitoring their condition. However, if the obstruction worsens or they become unable to breathe, immediate action should be taken.