BLS CERTIFICATION – AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION TREATMENTS EXPLAINED

A BLS certification loads lifesavers with confidence. All this confidence helps lifesavers gain the skills needed to perform CPR skills confidently in a team environment. They become more responsible lifesavers with a duty to respond.

A BLS certification loads you with several essential life-saving skills. The list includes but is not limited to the following:

  • The art of glove removal.
  • Primary assessment skills.
  • CPR & AED.
  • Airway obstruction detection skills and treatment methods.
  • Assisted ventilation.
  • BLS special considerations.

We have been talking about one of these concepts for some time. It is the concept of airway obstruction. We have decided to advance your knowledge about it. We are going to detail the following in this post for you:

  • The way airway obstruction is treated.
  • Acute upper airway obstruction.
  • Cause of upper airway obstruction.
  • The best time to seek medical attention.

The Art of Treating Airway Obstruction:

The basic life support certification course teaches you several airway obstruction treatment methods mentioned below:

  • The heimlich manoeuvre.
  • Epinephrine
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Airway obstruction is a serious medical condition. There are many types of airway obstruction. Some of its types get treated easily. However, some types of airway obstructions can be life-threatening. If ignored, consider the inevitable on cards!

Call emergency medical services if you see someone facing airway obstruction. Allow us to discuss these treatments with you.

The Heimlich Manoeuvre:

Every basic life support certification course focuses on this emergency technique. It is applied to help if someone is choking on a foreign object. Follow the steps mentioned below to handle the situation in the best possible way!

  • Stand behind the person choking.
  • Wrap your arms around the waist of the person choking.
  • Make a fist.
  • Target the belly button with the fist.
  • Place your fist in your other hand.
  • Give five fast thrusts by pressing your fist into the patient's abdomen area.
  • You should repeat the thrusting process until the object gets dislodged or medical services reach the scene.

Important Note: The Red Cross Society also recommends five back blows. However, some medical study-related institutes do not teach such a thing.

This emergency technique is used for infants.

Epinephrine:

Airway swelling is one of the causes of airway obstruction. It happens to people with severe allergies. Therefore, you should carry an EpiPen in your emergency medical kit. Following is the list of people who usually face this condition.

  • People are allergic to certain food items.
  • People are allergic to bee stings.

Such people have to face one of the conditions mentioned below:

  • Sudden and rapid swelling of the throat.
  • Rapid and sudden swelling of the tongue.

Such a condition results in complete airway obstruction within a couple of minutes.

What is an EpiPen?

A simple injector that carries Epinephrine is called EpiPen.

What is an EpiPen?

A basic life support specialist is asked to inject an injection into the patient’s outer thigh. Inject it as soon as the patient experiences symptoms of severe allergic reaction.

This injection is useful for a patient experiencing anaphylactic shock. Inject it while the patient waits for the medical services to arrive at the scene.

The medical professional who arrives at the scene must be a basic life support certificate holder with complete knowledge about the art of injecting EpinePhrine after evaluating the patient. Evaluate the patient as possible.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR):

A basic life support certification holder must be familiar with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. All lifesaving skills related to the CPR process are always taught to medical emergency professionals. Skills relevant to it are used under the following circumstances:

  • If the patient is unable to breathe.
  • If the patient loses consciousness.
  • To ensure the appropriate flow of oxygenated blood to the patient's brain.

It is done until medical services arrive at the scene.

Perform the steps mentioned below to perform CPR in such a critical situation:

  • Place the heel of your hand in the middle of the patient's chest.
  • Target the top with your other hand.
  • Push straight down while applying your upper body weight.
  • You should repeat the process 100 to 120 times per minute.

Continue the process until an ambulance or a team of BLS certification-holder medical professionals arrive at the scene. 

Prognosis After An Airway Obstruction:

There are several types of airway obstruction treatment methods. Any treatment can be used once the ambulance arrives.

One of the following tubes can be inserted into the airways:

  • Endotracheal tube.
  • Nasotracheal tube.

The insertion of these tubes can help ensure oxygen flow through swollen airways. Two surgical openings are ensured in the airways. These two surgical openings help bypass and obstruct. Mentioned below are the names of those two surgical openings for your reference:

  • Tracheostomy.
  • Cricothyrotomy.

Medical professionals who are heavily experienced, skilled, and basic life support certificate holders perform these medical procedures when all of the methods mentioned above fail. 

Keep Watch On Prognosis After An Airway Obstruction:

Airway obstructions can be life-threatening even during the treatment. However, prompt treatment can help patients get rid of this medical condition. Seek medical help immediately if you see someone experiencing airway obstruction.

Acute Upper Airway Obstruction:

It is a blockage that interferes with the upper airway system of your body. This part of your respiratory system consists of the following organs:

  • Trachea.
  • Larynx/Voicebox.
  • Throat.

Airways obstruction prevents the flow of oxygen in all parts of your body. This problem has the potential to cause two major health issues listed below:

  • Brain damage.
  • Heart attack.

It happens within a couple of minutes. This type of airway obstruction has the potential to be life-threatening. Look for a basic life support certificate holder or call for medical help immediately if you or someone you know is dealing with such a problem.

Cause Of Upper Airway Obstruction:

People experience this problem for several reasons. Listed below are those reasons for your reference:

  • Anaphylaxis
  • Croup
  • Epiglottis
  • Inhaling a foreign object or food.

The Best Time To Seek Medical Attention:

Don’t be lazy in this matter. Call a basic life support certificate holder or medical help immediately. Agitation, confusion, panic, drooling, swollen face, swollen tongue, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, choking, unconsciousness, and other unusual breath sounds are some common symptoms of UAO (Upper Airway Obstruction).

The list of signs varies sometimes. The signs of UAO could be different among two patients. Cyanosis can also be a symptom of upper airway obstruction. Cyanosis occurs due to a lack of oxygen in the patient’s body. It gives the following a bluish color:

  • Your skin.
  • Your lips.
  • Your fingernails.

Immediately call a medical professional with a basic life support certificate for help if you notice a bluish tint in these organs/parts of your body.

Knowledge is a deep ocean. It never ends. You will continue finding something new every time you deep dive into this ocean. Therefore, keep coming back here to learn more about the concept.

Come back acticert to enroll in the best BLS certification course in Canada. You will learn about it and many more concepts. Call our support staff if you need help to enroll! Assistance is just a call away!