Has anyone had to do heimlich on a patient who choked on pills

frannybee · Feb 15, 2003

Isn't the theory that you don't give pills to someone lying in bed to prevent choking??

CCL"Babe", BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2003

One of the people I went to nursing school with had a patient, who choked on their pills and then coded. Boy did she feel bad. Don't remember if the patient survived.

RN always, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2003

Well I don't mean laying in bed flat. Just in bed period. Of course I know not to give a pill when a patient is laying flat. I was just wondering if anyone had a patient that actually did choke on a pill and had to do the heimlich and if it worked! Thats all. :)

researchrabbit · Feb 15, 2003

The only time I've done the Heimlich was when I was working in a restaurant and one of the patrons choked. Worked like charm.

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Feb 15, 2003

Used it on a pt sitting up, did not work, got cyanotic and quit moving. Yanked them down on the floor and did heimlich on them lying in floor, it worked then, recovered with no great complications, doc I think put them on prophylactic ABT in case they had aspirated.

renerian, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2003

Yes this happened to me before several times. I got in bed with them quickly behind them,(they were in high fowlers) and did the manuver that way. Worked like a charm. Did it on my kids a couple of times as well.

renerian

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2003

Originally posted by renerian
Yes this happened to me before several times. I got in bed with them quickly behind them,(they were in high fowlers) and did the manuver that way. Worked like a charm. Did it on my kids a couple of times as well.

renerian

I bellive you can straddle them and give blows upward towadr the head. You know what I mean? I vaguely remeber suctioning food out of someone....

Had to do it on my 1 year old when she was choking on chicken. I don't know who was crying harder!

renerian, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2003

Dawn your right it is very scarey when your kids choke......

renerian

justjill · Feb 16, 2003

only had to use it once....at a restaurant on this huge man who was choking on a piece of steak.....but it worked wonders! :)