Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

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What is the appropriate action to take after summoning help for a person who is choking and unable to breathe, speak, or cough?

Perform a series of 10 back blows
Give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts
Perform CPR immediately
Wait for medical assistance to arrive

The correct answer is: Give 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts

When a person is choking and unable to breathe, speak, or cough, the immediate action taken after summoning help is to provide rapid intervention to clear the airway. Administering 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts is the recommended procedure in this situation. The back blows are performed to dislodge the obstruction by delivering forceful blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. If this method does not resolve the choking, the abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver) are used. These thrusts create increased pressure in the abdomen that can help expel the object blocking the airway. The combination of these techniques is effective in increasing the chances of removing the obstruction and restoring normal breathing. This protocol is outlined in BLS training, emphasizing the importance of acting promptly and skillfully to prevent potential loss of life. Adopting a sequential approach of back blows followed by abdominal thrusts ensures a comprehensive method of addressing airway obstruction effectively.