Yes, but 911 will provide pre-approval instructions for you and also start EMS
Source- am a 911 dispatcher
That said, a lot of our instructions fall a bit short of what you would learn from pretty much any first aid class, and we’re not really allowed to deviate from our approved instructions for liability reasons. So if you’re able to, everyone take some first aid classes. At the very least, you don’t want the first time you’re learning something to be in an actual emergency situation
I posted that as a joke but being serious, I got my Wilderness First Responder cert last year and honestly believe that these are skills I should have learned in high school. It was only a three week course but it gave such great information and preparation that it should be standard in education. The 911 operator I engaged with relayed information to and from the EMS that was heading to the site and I don’t think anyone is really going to use YouTube or similar for this purpose. Chances are, if they need YouTube, they are probably panicking and if not, then the operator can relay basics. Good on you for doing a damn hard job I know I couldn’t pull off.
So first of all, I’m not a medical professional nor am I certified as a CPR instructor, I have a lot more training and experience than the average person, but still take my advice for what it’s worth.
So first of all, most of the time unless someone was trying to hork down a whole fish head or something, most fish bones in most circumstances aren’t going to really obstruct a person’s airway enough to asphyxiate them. It’s going to uncomfortable as fuck, but they’re not in immediate danger of dying. If they’re able to talk, cough, make noises, etc. which I’m pretty sure is the majority of fish bone choking cases, you’re not even going to do the heimlich, it probably wouldn’t work anyway, you’re probably not going to get enough pressure behind that fish bone to pop it out since air is moving around it. Encourage them to try to cough it up themselves, don’t give them anything else to eat or drink, try to keep them calm, and if that doesn’t work, get them to a doctor.
If they aren’t able to make any noise then you’re going to keep doing the heimlich until they pass out, at which point you switch to cpr, and you keep at it until the ambulance gets there and takes over. Call 911 first, even if your able to get in up with the heimlich you want to have the ambulance already on the way if they pass out even if it’s not necessary in the end.
Unless you can see the obstruction and can sweep it out with your fingers, don’t go sticking anything in their mouth, you’re probably not going to get it, and you might cause more damage.
Yes, but 911 will provide pre-approval instructions for you and also start EMS
Source- am a 911 dispatcher
That said, a lot of our instructions fall a bit short of what you would learn from pretty much any first aid class, and we’re not really allowed to deviate from our approved instructions for liability reasons. So if you’re able to, everyone take some first aid classes. At the very least, you don’t want the first time you’re learning something to be in an actual emergency situation
I posted that as a joke but being serious, I got my Wilderness First Responder cert last year and honestly believe that these are skills I should have learned in high school. It was only a three week course but it gave such great information and preparation that it should be standard in education. The 911 operator I engaged with relayed information to and from the EMS that was heading to the site and I don’t think anyone is really going to use YouTube or similar for this purpose. Chances are, if they need YouTube, they are probably panicking and if not, then the operator can relay basics. Good on you for doing a damn hard job I know I couldn’t pull off.
Ah, someone with knowledge and experience in the field 👍
Can we ask, what would you suggest, assuming the Heimlich Maneuver has already been tried but didn’t work because the bone is sharp and stuck?
Needle nose pliers? Running out of time here…
So first of all, I’m not a medical professional nor am I certified as a CPR instructor, I have a lot more training and experience than the average person, but still take my advice for what it’s worth.
So first of all, most of the time unless someone was trying to hork down a whole fish head or something, most fish bones in most circumstances aren’t going to really obstruct a person’s airway enough to asphyxiate them. It’s going to uncomfortable as fuck, but they’re not in immediate danger of dying. If they’re able to talk, cough, make noises, etc. which I’m pretty sure is the majority of fish bone choking cases, you’re not even going to do the heimlich, it probably wouldn’t work anyway, you’re probably not going to get enough pressure behind that fish bone to pop it out since air is moving around it. Encourage them to try to cough it up themselves, don’t give them anything else to eat or drink, try to keep them calm, and if that doesn’t work, get them to a doctor.
If they aren’t able to make any noise then you’re going to keep doing the heimlich until they pass out, at which point you switch to cpr, and you keep at it until the ambulance gets there and takes over. Call 911 first, even if your able to get in up with the heimlich you want to have the ambulance already on the way if they pass out even if it’s not necessary in the end.
Unless you can see the obstruction and can sweep it out with your fingers, don’t go sticking anything in their mouth, you’re probably not going to get it, and you might cause more damage.
Have you tried turning it off and back on again?
Genius! How long should I leave it turned off?..
By now, it doesn’t really matter anymore. Let me patch you through to legal.