Under normal circumstances, what is swallowed generally passes into the stomach but sometimes foreign objects can enter the respiratory tract. Coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulties and choking is the obvious result of the latter case. Therefore, it is always recommended to chew solid particles of food slowly and properly to avoid choking, etc. But accidents happen, and if a foreign object enters the respiratory tract, you would need medical assistance immediately.
First Aid for Swallowing Foreign Objects
If it is a pointed object it will have to be removed immediately to avoid injury to the esophagus. Tiny objects such as a piece of the calculator, buttons, etc should also be removed immediately before causing tissue damage.
- Strike the person from behind the shoulder blades with the heel of your hands
- Do the abdominal thrust on the victim by standing right behind, holding him or her with a closed fist above the navel and lifting quickly
- Back strikes and abdominal thrusts should be alternately done five times each
- Call 911 or the nearest emergency services
- To do abdominal thrust on yourself, place a closed fist above your navel and holding it with the other hand bend over a hard surface or chair pushing the fist inwards and upwards
If the foreign object passes into the stomach, symptoms such as vomiting, local tenderness and coughing needs to be attended to. The stool has to be observed and x-rays may become necessary if the object does not pass away naturally through stool for the next 4-5 days.