You were so hungry
that you barely chewed your meal.
Now, a big chunk of food
is stuck in your throat.
If only there were someone around
to help you.
Your face is turning blue.
Is this it?
Is this how your life will end?
Choking occurs when a foreign object
is lodged in the throat or windpipe,
blocking the airflow.
Adults usually choke on food,
while children tend to choke
on small objects,
like pieces of toys.
And asphyxia happens when your body
does not get enough oxygen
to keep you from passing out.
A person might not be able to speak
and ask for help while choking,
so look for signs like inability to talk,
intense nose breathing,
squeaky sounds,
forceful coughing,
and loss of consciousness.
Also, look for skin, lips, and nails
turning blue or dusky,
or skin that is flushed and then turns pale.
But what if you're the one who is choking
and no one is there to help you?
Choking essentially cuts off oxygen
to the brain,
which is called cerebral hypoxia.
Brain cells are sensitive
to a lack of oxygen.
Some brain cells start dying
after less than five minutes
without their oxygen supply.
Irreversible brain death
occurs in about 10 minutes.
According to an article posted
on The National Safety Council.
And 2,848 of them were older than 74.
In the United States,
the odds that you'll die
from choking on food
is around 1 in 2,696.
This is higher than the odds of dying
from an accidental gun discharge
or being a passenger on a plane.
Choking while alone can be alarming,
but if you remember these tips,
you should be able to live.
Do not try to force the food
down your throat by drinking water.
This can make the situation much worse
and block your airway even more,
making it impossible to dislodge the food.
Prevent choking by taking small bites
and chewing your food thoroughly.
Don't talk,
and try not to laugh while you're chewing.
And be extra careful
if you're drinking alcohol.
Having alcohol in your blood
changes your perception of when
of when you have chewed
your food enough,
so you tend to swallow sooner.
In addition,
the muscles in your throat
aren’t as coordinated
as when you are sober.
This may be against your instincts
since you cannot breathe,
but you need to call 911 immediately.
You may not be able to vocalize
what you are going through.
But the operator can pick up cues
when they hear you coughing
and can dispatch first responders
much quicker.
Hopefully, the next steps will help you,
and you can let them know that you're OK.
But if you pass out,
at least help will be on the way.
In 2016, actress Ellen Barkin
was having lunch,
and she began to panic
after food became stuck in her windpipe.
She passed out,
and was quickly taken to the hospital,
where doctors performed tests
and discharged her that night.
If you can cough,
make a sound,
laugh, or cry,
that is good news.
It means that your airway
is not completely blocked.
So try to cough as forcefully as possible
until the object blocking your windpipe
is forced out.
You will not be able to deliver back blows
to yourself effectively.
But you can perform abdominal thrusts
to dislodge the item.
Place a fist slightly above your navel,
then place your other hand
on top of the fist.
Push inwards and upwards,
as hard as you can, in a quick motion.
This pressure on the diaphragm
compresses the lungs
and forces the remaining air
to push up through the trachea,
hopefully dislodging the food.
You can also use a countertop
or the back of a chair
to press your stomach.
Those hard thrusts can hurt
your abdomen and organs.
If you had to push hard many times,
you could be facing a ruptured spleen
or other issues.
Also, there’s a chance some food
could have gone into your lungs,
which might cause inflammation,
infection, or collapse them.
If you feel pain in your stomach
or you still can't breathe properly,
go to a hospital immediately.
Never underestimate the importance
of having a basic knowledge of first aid.
Remembering these simple steps
can mean the difference
between life and death.
You almost got killed by your dinner,
but what if you had nothing on your plate?
Could you survive with no food or water?
Find out here.