What to do first if a choking child becomes unconscious

[nurseglitter]

:clown:Hey everyone, my friends and I are a bit confused with this question. I hope someone out there can help.

Question: A child choking on food becomes unconscious what do you do FIRST?

A- Check for airway

B- Chest compressions

C- Check for pulse.

I think we should check for airway, my friend says check for pulse and our other friend says to start chest compressions. Which one is correct?

[sheri_w]

Check airway, the obstruction may have dislodged when the child lost conciousness.

[RLtinker, LPN]

I am pretty sure it is air way.

The reason being that breathing takes the highest priority. In CPR they call it ABC, airway, breathing, circulation. And it is done in that order.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

it's airway

[Black Jade, BSN, RN]

Airway.

[imapsychrn]

Did you check the new CPR guidelines (The ones out this month I think?) I haven't seen them, but our instructor talked about it some. They focus more on compressions - so the answer may have changed from airway to compressions.

[ag11]

so if we already know the child is unconscious because of a foreign object obstructing the airway why would we still waste crucial 10 seconds to check the airway? i choose chest compressions.

[mskate]

always check breathing first - especially with kids. They tend to lose the respiratory aspect of things first.

[heartnursing]

You only do compressions when there is no pulse... not just because someone is unconscious.

ABC--- Airway, Breathing, Circulation

[LegzRN]

AIRWAYYY

[wombatbullant]

It is always and always had been clear airway first. It is useless trying to do compresions or breaths if air way is blocked, any one who says differnt would fail a first aid course.

[lckrn2pa]

Unconscious check airway, FB visible remove if not give 2 rescue breaths, if chest does not rise, reposition head and give 2 more breaths, if no chest rise 5 compressions and recheck airway if object visible remove and check for spontaneous respiration. If FB not visible then continue CPR til airway clears or EMS arrives to take over. Don't worry with checking pulses, it's only done after 5 cycles of CPR and then only briefly,

CPR in children is indicated for bradycardia so it's not just for people with no pulse.