First Aid
Foreign object swallowed
If you swallow a foreign object, it will usually pass through the digestive system uneventfully. But some objects can lodge in the esophagus, the tube that connects throat and stomach. If an object is stuck in the esophagus, you may need to remove it, especially if it is:- A pointed object, which should be removed as quickly as possible to avoid further injury to the esophageal lining
- A tiny watch- or calculator-type button battery, which can rapidly cause local tissue injury and should be removed from the esophagus without delay
If a swallowed object blocks the airway: - Use the Heimlich maneuver to try to remove the object if the person is having trouble breathing.
- Call for emergency medical assistance.
To perform the Heimlich maneuver on someone else: - Stand behind the person. Wrap your arms around the waist. Tip the person forward slightly.
- Make a fist with one hand. Position it slightly above the person's navel.
- Grasp the fist with the other hand. Press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust as if trying to lift the person up.
- Repeat until the blockage is dislodged.
To perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself: - Place a fist slightly above your navel.
- Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface a countertop or chair will do.
- Shove your fist inward and upward.
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