taskchp2

Task

Aid a conscious person with an upper airway obstruction.

Conditions

Given a simulated conscious casualty who is having a hard time breathing (standing or sitting) because something is stuck in their throat.

Standard

Attempt to clear the object from the casualty’s throat. Continue giving abdominal or chest thrusts until the casualty can talk and breathe normally, you are relieved by a qualified person, or the casualty becomes unconscious, requiring mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Score a GO on the performance checklist.

Site Preparation

You will need another solider to play the part of the casualty. Describe the symptoms of a casualty with good air exchange, poor air exchange, or a complete airway obstruction. Ask the soldier what should be done. Score step 2 based upon the answer. Then tell the soldier to do all of the first aid steps required to clear an object from the casualty’s throat.

Scenario

Tell the solider to demonstrate where to stand, how to position their hands, and how to position the casualty for the thrusts. The soldier must tell you how the thrusts should be done. Ensure the soldier understands that they must not actually do the thrusts.

Performance Measures	Results
A. ADMINISTER ABDOMINAL THRUSTS TO A STANDING OR SITTING CASUALTY
1. Question: When are chest thrusts preferred to abdominal thrusts?	Go	No-go
2. Determine if the casualty needs help.	Go	No-go
3. Inserts arms under the casualty's arms and around the casualty's waist.	Go	No-go
4. Makes fist and places thumb side of fist on mid-line slightly above the casualty's navel.	Go	No-go
5. Covers fist with other hand.	Go	No-go
6. Presses fists into abdomen using quick inward, upward motion [simulate, do not use full force]; then relaxes the hold.	Go	No-go
7. Administers abdominal thrusts at a rate of one thrust every 4 or 5 seconds until the blockage is expelled or the casualty becomes unconscious.	Go	No-go
8. Question: What should you do if the casualty loses consciousness before the obstruction is expelled?	Go	No-go
8. OVERALL EVALUATION	Go	No-go
B. ADMINISTER CHEST THRUSTS TO A STANDING OR SITTING CASUALTY
1. When are chest thrusts preferred to abdominal thrusts?	Go	No-go
2. Determine if the casualty needs help.	Go	No-go
3. Stands behind the casualty.	Go	No-go
4. Inserts arms under the casualty's armpits and around the casualty's chest.	Go	No-go
5. Makes fist and places thumb side of fist on center of the casualty's breastbone.	Go	No-go
6. Covers fist with other hand.	Go	No-go
7. Depresses sternum [simulate, do not use full force]; then relaxes the hold.	Go	No-go
8. Administers abdominal thrusts at a rate of one thrust every 4 or 5 seconds until the blockage is expelled or the casualty becomes unconscious.	Go	No-go
9. Question: How far should the sternum be depressed if the casualty is an adult?	Go	No-go
10. Question: What should you do if the casualty loses consciousness before the obstruction is expelled?	Go	No-go
11. OVERALL EVALUATION	Go	No-go

Score the student GO if all performance measures are go. Score the student NO GO if any performance measure is no-go. If the student scores a NO GO, show the student what was done wrong and how to do it correctly.