When do you intervene when food is lodged?

[BumblebeeinNC, ADN, BSN]

I'm really confused as to when you are supposed to intervene when someone has food lodged in their throat. I am beginning nursing school in two weeks and I recently got my CNA certification and am CPR certified. The CPR protocol says that if the person can speak and breathe then leave them alone. The newest info also says do NOT do a blind finger sweep.

My 13 yo son runs downstairs telling us he is choking on a dum dum sucker. It had come off of the stick. He runs to the kitchen sink and is coughing and trying to spit it up somehow and says he feels it stuck low in his throat like at the opening of the esophagus. I tell my husband that he is not choking b/c he can talk and breathe. I begin to tell our son to relax and lets get something to drink to see if it will go down. My husband then sticks his finger in our son's throat (to do a blind sweep for the object) causing our son to throw up and out pops the sucker. Whew, I am relieved that he gets it out but now I feel really stupid that I wasnt able to help. I am starting nursing school in two weeks for pete's sake!

So, I need some experienced advice on when to intervene when an object is lodged but they are not officially "choking" yet. Thanks!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you were all lucky that your husband's efforts were successful. CPR classes are based on research of thousands of cases and what they teach is what is recommended based on the highest number of successful outcomes. In other words, nothing works 100% of the time. Meanwhile, do not think that you will have every answer all the time even after graduation. Do not start beating yourself up now as you will be sorely bruised by the time you get your degree. Just use this as a learning experience. Good luck in your studies!

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

I've always been told that if they can breathe and talk and cough, don't intervene. If that ceases, THEN you intervene. A blind sweep can sometimes cause the object to become even MORE lodged, therefore requiring you to intervene even more.

[HiHoCherry-O]

It sounds as though the lollipop was somewhere lower in the throat and not occluding the trachea in any way (since you mentioned he was still breathing, talking and coughing and when he threw up, out came the lollipop).

[shiccy]

I've always been told that if they can breathe and talk and cough, don't intervene. If that ceases, THEN you intervene. A blind sweep can sometimes cause the object to become even MORE lodged, therefore requiring you to intervene even more.

Or cause spontaneous amputation of said husbands finger

[happy2learn]

You were right. If they can breath, talk, or cough, DO NOT INTERVENE. You are supposed to let them cough it out. If they can cough, that means they are getting air.

If they cannot breath, talk, cough, then you need to perform the heimlich. You may see cyanosis around the lips. This means they are getting no air at all. You must perform the heimlich.

I just had to do this on my STNA exam 2 weeks ago.

I'd inform your husband that while he was lucky, he was wrong and educate him on what is the proper way to handle it. I know how much husbands love being wrong.

[Tina, RN]

I agree with the above posts. If the person can breathe, speak and/or cough, just stand by and observe, don't intervene.

I was also thinking that it seemed as if the pop was stuck at a lower point in the esophagus (as HighHoCherry-o mentioned). So, your son could feel that it was stuck in there, and felt anxious about it, even though it wasn't occluding his breathing. I wonder if sipping a hot drink would have maybe dissolved the candy a bit, so it could slide down into his stomach? Any opinions?

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

Or cause spontaneous amputation of said husbands finger

That too! And then, you would be doing a whole lot of intervening! hahahaha!

[CrazierThanYou]

Hi Bumblebee. I'm from NC and starting nursing school next week.

Glad your son (and your hubby's finger) is okay!

[Asystole RN]

A Nurse must know that sometimes doing nothing is the best thing to do.

[glad2bhere]

I was recently at a church picnic and an elderly woman started choking on some food. An RN who was a attendee was called over and her 'medical' advice was to give the woman some bread and water. I have NEVER heard of doing this for someone choking. Have I missed something in my CPR training?

[CrazierThanYou]

I was recently at a church picnic and an elderly woman started choking on some food. An RN who was a attendee was called over and her 'medical' advice was to give the woman some bread and water. I have NEVER heard of doing this for someone choking. Have I missed something in my CPR training?

Ummmmmmmmmm... okay.