Basic life support: choking in adults

Martin Doleček, MD, PhD Head of Emergency Department, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Medical Faculty of Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

The presented scenario describes very clearly the various steps of the algorithm FBAO (Foreign-body airway obstruction) with a focus on severe (complete) airway obstruction. It deals with the variousn key moments when performing BLS (Basic Life Support). Since the described situation is by nature very dramatic and puts a huge strain on the psyche of a rescuer, he or she must be very well trained to provide assistance and act basically automatically. The way of processing of presented algorithm for the purpose of training is more than suitable for its quality and focus on the most important points in providing lay first aid to the patient with a complete airway obstruction by a foreign body.