What should you do if a person with dementia is experiencing choking episodes
If a person with dementia is experiencing choking episodes, it’s crucial to act quickly and calmly to help them safely. Dementia can affect swallowing and increase the risk of choking, so knowing what to do can save a life.
**Recognize the Signs of Choking**
A person who is choking may:
– Cough weakly or not at all
– Be unable to speak or breathe properly
– Show signs of distress like clutching their throat or turning blue around the lips
If they are coughing forcefully, encourage them to keep coughing as this might clear the blockage on its own[2].
**What To Do If They Are Choking**
1. **Call for Help Immediately**
If the person cannot cough, speak, or breathe, call emergency services right away.
2. **Perform Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver)**
– Stand behind the person and give up to 5 firm back blows between their shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
– If this doesn’t work, perform up to 5 abdominal thrusts: make a fist just above their belly button, grasp it with your other hand and pull sharply inward and upward[1][3][4].
Continue alternating between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or emergency help arrives.
3. **If They Become Unconscious**
Carefully lay them on their back on a flat surface. Open their airway by tilting their head back slightly and lifting their chin. Check for any visible obstruction in their mouth—if you see something loose, remove it gently but don’t push it further down[5].
4. **Start CPR if Needed**
If they stop breathing after becoming unconscious, begin CPR immediately while waiting for emergency responders[1][5].
**Additional Tips When Caring for Someone with Dementia**
– Stay calm; sudden panic can worsen confusion in someone with dementia.
– Reduce distractions around them during meals—quiet environments help focus on eating safely.
– Cut food into small pieces and avoid foods that are hard to chew or swallow.
– Encourage slow eating and sitting upright during meals.
Knowing these steps helps protect someone with dementia from serious harm if they choke. Training in first aid techniques like abdominal thrusts can be lifesaving in these moments[1]. Always seek professional medical advice afterward because choking episodes may indicate underlying health issues needing attention.
In summary: recognize choking signs quickly; call for help; use back blows followed by abdominal thrusts; lay them down carefully if unconscious; start CPR if breathing stops—and keep calm throughout.[1][2][3][4][5]
