Runny nose

If some water gets into your lungs. Causes, symptoms and treatment of fluid (water) in the lungs

Secondary drowning can occur hours or even days after a person drowns. The main thing is to see a doctor as soon as possible!

Secondary drowning can occur hours or even days after a person drowns. The main thing is to consult a doctor as quickly as possible so that he can take urgent measures.

Summer brings more than just joy. Unfortunately, every summer a sad count of people drowning on beaches or in swimming pools opens. Both adults and children drown. Of course, special attention must be paid to the safety of children.

In order for children to enjoy swimming without risk, you need to not lose sight of them when they swim, check in the pool whether the water drain is equipped with a grate, and so on.

Of course, we are all horrified when we read reports of children dying in the water or drowning.

But there is another type of accident, it is not so well known, but it also takes children’s lives every year...

We are talking about the so-called “secondary drowning”. In this case, drowning children or adults are rescued, pulled out of the water and brought back to life using appropriate procedures (artificial respiration and the like).

They return home seemingly in a normal state, but after a few hours or even days they begin to feel very tired, go to bed and... never wake up. It's terrible, but it happens.

In this article we will talk about secondary drowning so that you can take care of the safety of your children, and your own.

Secondary drowning: a silent death

First, let's tell, or rather, retell one story that happened quite recently to Lindsay Kujawa.This story also made it into the media., and, of course, Lindsay herself talked about it on her blog. Her son was drowning in the home pool, he stayed under water for several seconds, fortunately, he was pulled out in time and resuscitation procedures were performed.

Everything was fine with him, but Lindsay decided to contact the pediatrician and left him a message on his answering machine, telling him what happened. Imagine her surprise when the doctor responded very quickly to this message and recommended that she take the child to the hospital as quickly as possible.

When Lindsay found her son, she discovered that he was very sleepy. He was very tired, and his legs began to “weave”. Something bad was clearly happening to him. This was confirmed by tests done at the hospital.

The boy's lungs were irritated and inflamed by chemicals commonly used in swimming pools. The oxygen level in his blood dropped right before his eyes, and the child actually “drowned” without noticing it.

The doctors were able to save the boy with the help of the necessary medical procedures and good care. This took several days. Fortunately, the child’s mother quickly informed the doctor about what happened, and the doctors took all necessary measures.

But not all such stories end with such a happy ending. It is known that many children die as a result of secondary drowning.

After a child drowns, up to three days may pass without obvious symptoms of any health problems. But in the meantime, these problems grow, and tragedy occurs.

What you need to know about secondary drowning and dry drowning

“Dry” drowning occurs when the body and brain “feel” that they will now have to “inhale” water. While defensive reaction, spasm of the airways occurs. Water does not enter the lungs, but air does not enter there either, as a result the person remains without oxygen.

Secondary drowning occurs when water enters the lungs and remains there. You can “pump out” the child, but some of the water still remains in the lungs, and gradually it causes pulmonary edema. At first, this pulmonary edema does not create problems for the body, but after within a few hours or days it can lead to death.

It should also be taken into account that water Swimming pools contain a lot of chemicals. If they get into the lungs with water, inflammation and irritation occurs there.

Chlorine is strong irritates the bronchi.

After the drowning child was pulled out of the water, some of the water was “squeezed” out of him and artificial respiration was performed, there may still be some water left in the lungs. In a few hours this water causes inflammation of the bronchi, pulmonary edema occurs, resulting in a decrease in oxygen content in the blood.

If your child drowned, even if it was “not for long”, and at first glance he feels quite normal, immediately contact the doctors for emergency help.

Never lose sight of your children for a moment when you are at the beach or pool.

Teach them to swim as early as possible.

Even if children know how to swim, don't relax. The child may become ill or something (someone) may hit him in the pool (for example, another child will jump on him from the side). So, there is no need to lose vigilance, you need to constantly monitor your children.

Enjoy the summer sun and swimming in the sea or pool with your children, but always remember what we said in this article. The life and health of your children are worth it! published

P.S. And remember, just by changing your consumption, we are changing the world together! © econet

Hello! It seems to me that there is practically no reason for your concern. It is possible that the water did not enter your lungs at all. But even if it did hit, it would probably be in very small quantities. And, if you are a healthy person, then a small volume of water should very quickly be absorbed by the tissue of the respiratory tract on its own. Moreover, you coughed up phlegm. Coughing is the body’s protective reaction to irritation of the human respiratory tract. Whether water accidentally got into your respiratory tract, a crumb of bread, or you inhaled a strong smell, for example, tobacco smoke, coughing is a natural defensive reaction. During a cough, the body tries to get rid of mucus, or foreign particles that have entered the respiratory tract. I believe you can increase your physical activity at this time to make your breathing more frequent and deeper. Just do some breathing exercises.

However, if you are still concerned about your health, I think it is better to play it safe and consult a doctor.

Water in the lungs can be dangerous in a drowning situation or in the event of any serious illness. For example, with hydrothorax, when there is an accumulation of free fluid in the pleural cavity, the peripulmonary sac. It occurs for the same reason as ascites - stagnation of blood and sweating of its liquid part into the cavity. Considering that the fluid compresses the lung tissue over time, the patient develops shortness of breath or its sharp worsening if it existed before the development of hydrothorax. In addition, the lung tissue itself is “stuffed” with water, and this, even more than hydrothorax, increases shortness of breath.

Hydrothorax can be diagnosed by examining the patient, and in the place where the fluid has accumulated, changes will be detected during percussion (special tapping with fingers, which the doctor always uses). In the same area, when listening with a phonendoscope, breathing will be weakened or completely absent. If such data is detected, the doctor will certainly refer the patient for a chest x-ray, which will finally resolve all questions, since the fluid and its level are clearly visible in the image.

It must be said that the diagnosis of hydrothorax is established, regardless of the cause of its occurrence and the amount of accumulated fluid. The cause of hydrothorax may not only be cardiac. In addition, even a small amount of fluid that does not even make itself felt will also be called hydrothorax.

Sometimes a child or adult may choke while swimming. What to do if water gets into your lungs? In order for a person to breathe normally, it is necessary to remove water from the respiratory tract. Fluid in the lungs can cause inflammation of the lung tissue. Therefore, you need to know the rules of first aid to save a person.

First aid for water entering the respiratory tract

The sequence of actions to assist the victim depends on how much water has entered his body through the respiratory tract. Some conclusions can be drawn from a person's appearance. If the victim chokes on a small amount of water, he will cough, hold his throat, and his face may become red. If the skin is pale, it means the water has not reached the lungs.

The fact that water has entered the lungs is indicated by the bluish color of the skin.

The catcher turns blue and loses consciousness. Foamy liquid in such cases may pour out of the mouth and nose. Then you should immediately call an ambulance and immediately begin artificial respiration. If a person chokes on a sip of liquid while drinking, they tilt his head and tap him on the back between the shoulder blades.

If such measures do not bring results, but the victim is conscious, then you can try the Heimlich method. The sequence of actions should be like this:

You should stand behind the patient.
The hand clenches into a fist.
The thumb should be placed on the upper abdomen under the rib, above the navel (epigastric region).
The other hand clasps the fist and pushes upward, while the stomach is pressed.

Such movements are performed several times until the person’s breathing returns to normal.

If a person has swallowed a lot of water, then the following manipulations are performed:

The victim's chest is placed on his knee, his face turned down.
You need to press your finger on the root of your tongue to trigger the gag reflex.
You just need to clap on the back, tap gently between the shoulder blades.

If this does not help, artificial respiration is performed, alternating it with indirect cardiac massage. 30 presses are made on the heart, then 2 breaths, and the cycle repeats again.

Such actions are taken before the ambulance arrives. If necessary, the doctor can refer the patient to the hospital. An x-ray may need to be taken to make sure there is no water in the lungs or trachea. The doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment, select antibiotics and medications.

If water gets into your child's lungs

If the child is small, he should always be supervised. After all, a baby can choke even in a shallow pond or at home while swimming in the bathtub. A child, once under water, often gets scared and continues to breathe. And then the airways fill with fluid, which can enter the lungs. A spasm of the vocal cords occurs. It becomes impossible for him to breathe.

If water gets into a child’s lungs, the following actions should be taken:

Wrap your finger in a bandage, gauze or other clean cloth that is at hand. Then use your finger to try to clear the victim’s mouth of foam, mucus, possibly dirt and sand.
If someone is nearby, let them call an ambulance. After all, the rescuer needs to act at this time.
You should bend your leg and place the child on your knee so that his head hangs down. Next, forcefully but carefully press on the back in the lung area several times (or pat on the back). This will help empty your lungs of water.

If a very small child has swallowed water in the pool or bathtub, then you need to grab him by the legs and lift him so that his head is down. In this case, with the other hand, the child’s lower jaw should be pressed against the upper jaw so that the tongue does not interfere with the exit of water from the larynx.
When the water leaves the lungs, artificial respiration is performed. If the heart does not beat, you should immediately switch to chest compressions.

Everything must be done quickly, without waiting for the help of doctors, because every minute counts.

You should not rush to take the victim to the hospital; time may be lost. If the child himself cannot breathe, artificial ventilation is performed.

When the child comes to his senses, he should be dried, allowed to warm up, and given hot tea. And then take him to the hospital, where he will be examined and the necessary measures will be taken to prevent complications. It should be taken into account that the child’s heart may be unstable for some time.

Every person is obliged to learn how to provide first aid in the event that someone gets water into their lungs. It is important to be able to behave correctly in other emergency situations in order to save the life of a child or adult if necessary.

Probably, a similar situation is familiar to everyone: I was in a hurry to eat quickly on the go, swallowed large pieces or talked while eating, and ended up choking. Asphyxia, which occurs when a foreign body (food, in this case) enters the respiratory tract, is very dangerous for human life. If emergency measures are not taken, oxygen will not flow to the brain, and the person subsequently loses consciousness. If breathing is not restored in time, the victim may die within a couple of minutes.

If n a person is able to clear his throat on his own. The most you can do to help him is to give him a napkin or handkerchief to wipe away his tears. In this situation, it is a natural protective reaction n a small piece of food entered the respiratory tract, a function of the body that helps push an object out of the trachea, making breathing difficult. At the same time, there is no need to interfere with the person with any other manipulations.
If you are choking, you need to straighten up and try to inhale slowly and then exhale sharply, while bending at the waist. This simple method will help you clear your throat better.
Under no circumstances should you slap the victim on the back, as this may cause the foreign body to move even deeper and completely block breathing. But, if in a few minutes a person has not coughed up what has gotten into the trachea, or a large piece of food has completely blocked it, stopping the respiratory process, you need to quickly help the victim.

The fact that a person’s life is in danger can be indicated by the bluish-red color of his face and the inability to take a breath. In this case, the victim may grab his throat or chest.
Call an ambulance. And before the doctors arrive, take care of saving lives yourself. The Heimlich method will help here, which consists of the following activities:

Stand behind the suffocating person and wrap your arms around him.
Make a fist with one hand. Place your fist with the thumb side on your stomach in the area between where the ribs meet and the navel.
The palm of the other hand should be placed on top of the fist.
Press your fist sharply into your stomach, bending your elbows. In this case, you should not squeeze the chest.

Such movements must be repeated until breathing resumes or until the person is conscious.
If a person who has choked has lost consciousness, they should be placed face up on a hard surface. Cover your head with something cold. Then press firmly on the upper part of his abdomen, about 10 cm below the solar plexus. It must be repeated until the breathing process resumes.

When such trouble happens to a breastfeeding baby, to resume breathing, place the baby on your hand so that his face is in your palm. Tilt the axis of his body forward, and the child’s legs should be located on both sides of the adult’s forearm. Then clap your palm between his shoulder blades until the baby coughs up the foreign body into your hand. If nothing works out this way, you can also use the Heimlich method, but carefully calculate your strength.

If you are choking and there is no one to help, you can also use this method. Place your fist on the area between your navel and where your ribs meet. Press inward and upward. Also, instead of a fist, the edge of a table, a railing, or the back of a chair can appear.

After normal breathing is restored, a person may still have a cough. Therefore, you absolutely need to see a doctor to exclude the possibility that even a small piece of food will remain in the respiratory tract.

Air enters the lungs through the trachea. When you exhale, air from the lungs again enters the trachea. When swallowing, the epiglottis closes the entrance to the larynx, preventing food from entering the trachea. Thus, the epiglottis, upper part of the larynx, vocal cords and cough reflex are reliable protective mechanisms that prevent foreign bodies from entering the trachea. When a foreign object enters the trachea and upper part of the larynx, pain, laryngeal spasm, suffocation occurs, the voice becomes hoarse or disappears altogether. If the protective mechanism does not work, then saliva, food or foreign bodies enter the respiratory tract. As a result, a strong cough and gag reflex appears. Thanks to these reflexes, a foreign object is removed from the trachea. If the foreign body cannot be removed, then breathing is disrupted and air does not enter the lungs. The person begins to choke, which causes him great fear. If the foreign object is not removed in a timely manner, the person dies from suffocation.

Various foreign bodies can get into the trachea: small objects, pieces of food, powdery substances, etc.

Small items

The risk group includes small children who put any objects into their mouths. Children often choke on small pieces of food. Foreign objects can get into more than just the trachea. They can also get stuck in the back of the mouth or throat. When a foreign object gets stuck, swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract occurs, which makes it difficult to remove the body.

Food fragments can enter the trachea when swallowing, for example, too large a piece. In an unconscious person, food can also enter the trachea. The fact is that when a person is unconscious, his body muscles relax and the contents of the stomach rise up.

Powdery substances

Powdery substances are often inhaled by young children (for example, when playing with powder compacts or flour). When you inhale, particles of a powdery substance penetrate deep into the trachea and, falling on the bronchi, glue them together.

Signs of a foreign object entering the trachea

The first aid provider cannot see a foreign object in the airway. Its presence can be suspected by characteristic symptoms:

Sudden cough.
Suffocation.
Great fright.
Blueness of the skin (cyanosis).

First aid

The first aid provider must:

Stay calm, don't panic.
Calm the victim.
Ask him to breathe calmly and control his breathing movements.

The best way to remove a foreign object from the trachea is a strong blow between the shoulder blades. The force of the blow should depend on the age of the victim. In addition, you can stand behind the victim’s back, wrap your arms around him so that the clasped hands are above the epigastric region, and sharply press on the epigastric region. As a result of these actions, air is pushed out of the lungs, and with it the foreign body. Providing first aid to children and adults occurs differently.

Foreign object in the trachea in children

Bend your child over while supporting him with one hand.
With your other hand, strike between the shoulder blades.

Previously, to remove a foreign body from the respiratory tract, they took the child by the legs and, holding him in this position, tapped him between the shoulder blades. However, due to possible injuries, this method is not currently used.

Help for infants

Place your baby in your arm, belly down.
You should support his head with your hand. Make sure that your fingers do not cover his mouth.
Hit the child hard on the back (between the shoulder blades).

Helping an adult

Get down on one knee.
Bend the victim over your knee.
Strike hard between the shoulder blades.

If after applying 2-3 blows to the back (between the shoulder blades) the foreign object is not removed, then immediately call an ambulance.

What to do if you choked, how to properly help the victim, and how to help yourself?

Foreign body in the respiratory tract: how to recognize

How to recognize if a person has a foreign body stuck in the respiratory tract? Here are some main signs:

. The victim has a cough, watery eyes and redness of the face.
Difficulty breathing. Sometimes there is almost no breathing, and cyanosis may appear around the lips.
. This is the final stage in which the victim stops breathing. After some time, cardiac arrest is possible, followed by clinical death. If a person loses consciousness, they should immediately provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

First aid for a foreign body in the respiratory tract

The first thing you need to understand is to determine whether a person is breathing or not. If the victim is breathing at all, you should tell him to cough harder. Often these words (and the corresponding actions of the victim) are enough for a small foreign body to come out of the respiratory tract on its own. If within 30 seconds the person was unable to breathe, then it should be used. What does it consist of?

You should stand behind the victim.
Grasp the victim's torso with both hands. Cover the fist of your right hand with the palm of your left hand. Now use the knuckle of your right thumb to press five firm pressures on your upper abdomen. The direction should be up and towards you. If the foreign body is removed, the victim’s breathing will be restored.

The Heimlich method is carried out until the foreign body leaves the respiratory tract. If during these activities the victim loses consciousness, then the Heimlich method should be stopped and cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started instead.

To understand what happens when you choke, you must first understand how the back of your throat works. Everything you eat and the air you breathe passes through your throat to enter your body.

Food and liquid pass through the larynx into the esophagus and then into the stomach. The air goes down into another branch - the trachea or windpipe, and from there it enters the lungs. Both of these pathways begin at the back of the throat.

And if both holes are open, how does food get into one and air into the other? Luckily for us, our body is in control. Next to the trachea is the epiglottis, which comes into action every time you swallow. It closes the “little door”, which prevents food from entering the respiratory tract, and directs it along the esophagus to the stomach.

But if you laugh or talk while eating, the epiglottis does not have time to close in time. Food particles may slide down and enter the trachea. If the particles are small, your body will easily displace them from the wrong place, forcing you.

Heimlich method in children

If a foreign body is stuck in the airway of a child under 1 year old, the rescuer needs to sit down and place the child face down on his left forearm. The baby's lower jaw should be held with fingers folded into a claw. Then, with the heel of your palm, you need to apply five blows of medium strength with the heel of your palm to the area between the shoulder blades.

At the second stage of helping a child in case of foreign bodies, turn the child face up on the right forearm. Then you should apply five pushing movements along the sternum to a point located 1 finger below the internipple line. Do not press too hard to avoid damaging the baby's ribs.

When food goes down the wrong throat

Everyone has had to face this problem. You take a sip and realize that the food has gone down the wrong throat. Then a cough begins, sometimes panic, but, as a rule, everything stops within a few seconds. This happens because coughing is the body’s natural defense against foreign bodies entering the trachea. Thanks to coughing, our body manages to get rid of “stray” pieces of food or other foreign particles that accidentally enter the trachea.

But when the amount of food or its size is significant, suffocation can occur because the food or other object completely blocks the airways and air cannot pass through them into the lungs. In this case, the person can no longer get rid of the foreign body by coughing and stops breathing, speaking, or even making any sounds. Typically, when faced with such a situation, the victim grabs his throat and/or begins to wave his arms. If the trachea remains blocked for a long time, the person's face changes color from bright red to blue.

Our body needs oxygen to support vital processes. When oxygen does not reach the lungs and brain for some time, a person may lose consciousness, and due to a prolonged lack of oxygen access, irreversible changes occur in the brain, as a result of which a person may die.

What to do if someone is choking?

Respiratory arrest is a life-threatening condition. If you are trained in the Heimlich technique, provide assistance immediately. If there is someone present who has a skill, give him the opportunity to help the victim. If the technique is not performed correctly, you can harm the person and cause them pain. If the victim has stopped breathing and lost consciousness, the Heimlich maneuver should be performed simultaneously with (CPR).

Simple precautions

Be especially careful when eating certain foods that are easy to choke on. These are: nuts, grapes, raw carrots, popcorn and hard or sticky candies.
Try to eat while sitting, bite off food in small pieces, and chew slowly. Don't try to talk with your mouth full. Remember, it's not even about good manners, it's about preventing choking.
Supervise small children. Babies love to put things in their mouths and taste different things. Try to keep your baby safe and keep small objects out of your baby's reach.
Learn the Heimlich maneuver. They can tell you about this in first aid classes. It would be useful for any person to have this skill. Who knows? Perhaps you will have to become the savior when one of your loved ones or acquaintances chokes!

The topic of this article is not seasonal. But it is very relevant for everyone who has small children. However, similar troubles also happen to adults. I mean the entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract.

Let's talk briefly about adults first. How can a foreign body get into the respiratory tract of an adult? After all, he doesn’t put everything in his mouth like children. Of course it doesn't drag. But some adults have the habit of holding some small objects in their teeth while working. Remember, haven’t you ever had pins or small nails or screws in your mouth? By the way, I often do this myself. Foreign bodies such as dentures can enter an adult's airway during sleep or in situations where the person is unconscious. And of course, don’t forget that you can simply choke on food.

According to statistics, in 95-98% of cases, foreign bodies in the respiratory tract occur in children aged 1.5 to 3 years.

Children are little explorers. Their area of research includes absolutely everything. And they want not only to see, hear and touch their surroundings, but to taste everything they can reach. And these hands don’t always reach only for toys. Often these are completely inappropriate items, for example, beads, buttons, beans or peas, nuts, and so on. Children try to apply small objects to everything and most often push them into the most inappropriate places. And such inappropriate places include the ears, nose and mouth. Some small object that the child put in his mouth “slips” into the larynx during a deep breath. The reason for such inhalation may be fear, crying, screaming.

In addition, a child of this age is just learning to chew and swallow solid food properly. And, of course, he doesn’t succeed right away. Therefore, it is at this age that the risk of pieces of solid food getting into the respiratory tract is greatest.

Another bad thing is that the child cannot always say what exactly happened to him. And sometimes foreign bodies in the respiratory tract are detected too late.

And now a little anatomy.

The structure of the respiratory tract in humans is as follows: when inhaling, air enters the nasal passages, then into the nasopharynx and oropharynx (here the respiratory system intersects with the digestive system). Then - the larynx. In the larynx, air passes through the vocal cords and then into the trachea. Here is the first feature: in the subglottic space in a child under 3-5 years of age, lymphoid tissue is strongly expressed, which has a tendency to rapid swelling. This is what leads to the development of false croup during viral infections. And when foreign bodies enter this area, swelling of the subglottic space also very quickly develops, narrowing the airways. At the level of the 4-5 thoracic vertebrae, the trachea is divided into two main bronchi - the right and left, through which air flows to the right and left lungs, respectively. Here is the second feature: the right main bronchus is, as it were, a continuation of the trachea, extending to the side at an angle of only 25-30 degrees, while the left one extends at an angle of 45-60 degrees. That is why most often foreign bodies in the respiratory tract enter the generation of the right main bronchus. The right main bronchus is divided into three bronchi: the upper, middle and lower lobe bronchi. The left main bronchus is divided into two bronchi: the upper and lower lobe. Most often, foreign bodies end up in the right lower lobe bronchus.

According to the mechanism of obstruction (resistance to normal operation) of the respiratory tract, foreign bodies are divided into:

* non-obstructive lumen. Air passes freely past the foreign body during inhalation and exhalation. * completely obstructing the lumen. The air doesn't get through at all. * obstructing the lumen like a “valve”. On inhalation, air passes past the foreign body into the lung, and on exhalation, the foreign body blocks the lumen, thereby preventing air from leaving the lung.

Foreign bodies also differ in the method of fixation.

A fixed foreign body sits firmly in the lumen of the bronchus and practically does not move during breathing.

A floating foreign body is not fixed in the lumen and during breathing can move from one part of the respiratory system to another. Its movement can be heard with a phonendoscope in the form of “popping” when breathing. Sometimes it can be heard even from a distance. In addition, a floating foreign body is also dangerous because when it hits the vocal cords from below, a persistent laryngospasm occurs, which in itself leads to an almost complete closure of the lumen of the larynx.

Foreign bodies can enter any part of the respiratory tract. But in terms of localization, the most dangerous place is the larynx and trachea. Foreign bodies in this area can completely block the air supply. If immediate assistance is not provided, death occurs within 1-2 minutes.

For young children, the most dangerous situation is when a foreign body gets stuck between the folds of the glottis. The child cannot make a single sound. This is explained by the fact that a spasm of the glottis occurs, which can lead to respiratory arrest and suffocation. The child develops cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the mucous membranes and facial skin.

The fact that an adult or child is choking becomes clear from a sudden cough. At the same time, the person’s face turns red and tears appear in his eyes. And those around you readily hit you on the back with their fists. More often, of course, the crumb that got into the “wrong throat” is removed with a cough. But what if it’s not a crumb, but, say, a piece of sausage, an apple, or a fruit seed? Then, with each blow of a fist on the back, this piece will move further into the respiratory tract. In this case, normal breathing will change to stridorous breathing, that is, breathing with a characteristic wheeze during inspiration and with the participation of the muscles of the face, neck and chest. But not only does the piece block the air supply. It also irritates the mucous membrane of the larynx or trachea, and this, in turn, leads to their swelling and abundant secretion and accumulation of mucus. If the foreign body also has sharp edges, such as a plum pit, then it injures the mucous membrane and blood is added to the mucus. The victim’s condition is getting worse right before our eyes. The face, red at first, turns blue, the veins in the neck swell, a wheezing is heard when inhaling and the sinking of the supra- and subclavian fossae is visible. Coughing movements become less and less frequent, and movements become more and more sluggish. And very quickly the person loses consciousness. This condition is called blue asphyxia.

If the victim is not quickly provided with help, then blue asphyxia will turn into the stage of pale asphyxia in a few minutes. The skin will become pale with a grayish tint, the reaction of the pupils to light and the pulse in the carotid artery will disappear. In other words, clinical death will occur.

How to provide first aid in such a situation?

Firstly, you should not waste time examining the oral cavity. Secondly, do not try to reach the foreign body with your fingers or tweezers. If it is a piece of food, sausage or an apple, for example, then under the influence of saliva it will soften so much that when you try to get it out, it will simply fall apart into smaller pieces. And one or more of these small pieces, when inhaled, will again enter the respiratory tract.

But, no matter what the victim chokes on, the first thing to do is turn him over on his stomach and throw him over the back of a chair, if he is an adult, or over his own thigh, if he is a child. Then you need to hit him several times with an open palm on the back between the shoulder blades. You cannot strike with a fist or the edge of your palm.

If a small child chokes on a ball or pea, you need to quickly turn him upside down and tap him several times on the back at the level of the shoulder blades with an open palm. In this case, the “Pinocchio effect” will work. It will look the same as in the fairy tale about Pinocchio, when money was shaken out of him. If, after several strikes with your palm, the foreign body does not fall to the floor, then another method should be used.

But if a child chokes on a coin-shaped object, for example, a button, then another method must be used, since the one described above will not justify itself in this case, since the “piggy bank effect” is triggered. If you had a piggy bank as a child, remember how you tried to shake coins out of it. There is enough noise and ringing, but the coins do not want to fall out of the piggy bank, because they cannot stand on their own edge and roll around flat on themselves. This is how a flat and coin-shaped foreign body blocks the airways. We need to force him to change his position. To do this, you should use the method of shaking the chest. As a result of the shock, the foreign body will either rotate around its axis and open a passage for air, or move down the trachea and eventually end up in one of the bronchi. This will give the victim the opportunity to breathe with at least one lung.

There are several ways to shake the chest. The most common and effective of them is short, frequent blows with an open palm on the back in the interscapular area.

There is another method, which in Russia is called the “American police method.” I’ll say right away that I don’t know why it’s called that. In America this technique is called the Heimlich method. This method has two options.

First option

You need to stand behind the choking person, take him by the shoulders and pull him away from you at arm's length. Then sharply and forcefully hit his back against his own chest. This blow can be repeated several times. This option has one drawback. The chest against which the victim must be hit must be flat and masculine.

Second option

When using this option, you must also stand behind the victim. But in this case, you need to grab it with your hands so that your folded hands are below the victim’s xiphoid process. Then, with a sharp movement, you need to press hard on the diaphragm and at the same time hit the victim against your chest.

Both of these methods can be used if the victim is conscious. But at the same time, one must be prepared for the fact that the victim will develop a state of clinical death. Therefore, immediately after the blow, you should not unclench your hands, so as to prevent the victim from falling in case of cardiac arrest.

The same method, when applied to small children, should be performed as follows:

1. Place the baby on a hard surface on his back, tilt his head back, lift his chin; 2. Place two fingers of one hand on the child’s upper abdomen, between the xiphoid process and the navel, and quickly press deep and upward. The movement must be strong enough to remove the foreign object; 3. If the first time is not enough, then repeat the procedure up to four times.

Help for older children:

If blows to the back do not help, then sit the child on your lap, placing one of your hands on his stomach. Clench this hand into a fist, resting the inner side where the thumb is located in the middle of his stomach, and with the other hand hold the child by the back. Quickly press your fist into your stomach a little upward and as deep as possible. The movement must be strong to dislodge the stuck object. Repeat pressing up to four times.

If the choking person falls into a coma, you must immediately turn him over onto his right side and hit him on the back with your palm several times. But, unfortunately, as a rule, these actions do not bring success.

Until next time!

They were removed from the lungs under local anesthesia using special instruments. During the nut collection season, Kyiv specialists perform this procedure weekly on two or three children who accidentally inhaled kernels.

Relatives brought a basket of young nuts from the dacha,” says Svetlana, the mother of two-year-old Andryusha. - I cleaned the nucleoli from the film. Andryusha ran up to me from time to time and asked: “Mom, give it to me!” Once again, putting a nut in his mouth, the son choked. I tapped him on the back, he cleared his throat and went back to playing. Who would have thought that at that moment the pieces got into his bronchi?

The next day Andryusha went to kindergarten. The teachers noticed that the baby coughed from time to time. But he had no other cold symptoms. And suddenly

As usual, I came to pick up my son, and was greeted by a concerned teacher: “Andryusha’s temperature suddenly rose, he had a severe cough and wheezing in his chest,” continues Svetlana. — Doctors diagnosed him with left-sided pneumonia. But the X-ray did not confirm this diagnosis, although breathing in the left lung was practically not audible. Andryusha was treated for pneumonia for almost a month, but there was no improvement. Then we were sent for a special examination - bronchoscopy.

Before this procedure, doctors asked Svetlana in detail about how her child got sick. Among the usual questions about temperature and the nature of the cough, there was an unusual one: “Perhaps Andryusha choked shortly before his illness?”

That’s when I remembered the day when we ate nuts,” says Svetlana.

In the fall, during the nut-picking season, small children are admitted to our department two or three times a week, and nucleoli have accidentally entered their respiratory tract,” says Evgeniy Simonets, a surgeon at the Department of Pediatric Thoracic Surgery at Kyiv Clinical Hospital No. 17. -- On the x-ray, the pieces of nut in the bronchi are not visible. That's why we ask parents if their child choked or coughed while eating. By blocking the lumen of the bronchus, the pieces of nut do not allow the lungs to breathe fully; sputum collects there, which causes bronchitis or pneumonia. Only examination with a bronchoscope equipped with a miniature video camera helps to detect a foreign object in the bronchi. By the way, in addition to nuts, children inhale popcorn, pieces of straw, chewing gum, small parts of toys, and coins. Our department even has a collection of recovered items.

It is better for small children to puree fruits

The doctors gave me pieces of the nut that were in my son’s lungs,” Oksana shows tiny fragments of the nucleolus. “I decided to keep them as a reminder of what happened.” Now I don’t let my son chew while playing. He knows what to eat while sitting calmly at the table.

We spoke with Oksana on the eve of Andryusha’s discharge from the hospital. When the nuts were removed from the child’s lungs, the inflammatory process quickly stopped.

After the bronchoscopy, the doctors prescribed a week-long course of treatment,” Oksana continues. - Now I decided not to allow my son to eat his favorite nuts, chips, seeds, and dried fruits. He, like other children, loves to chew them on walks. At the hospital, I was also convinced that chewing gum should not be bought for children. They also often end up in the bronchi. During our stay at the clinic, I saw children who inhaled popcorn. There was even a case when black peppercorns were taken out of a child’s lungs!

It's hard to imagine that food could be so dangerous. But children under four years old do not chew food well, and their swallowing reflex has not yet developed.

Babies often swallow while inhaling, so pieces of food along with air enter the respiratory tract, explains Evgeniy Simonets. --And this happens mainly during play or when the child is distracted. So if he often chokes while eating, you need to grind large pieces of food. Over time, the child will learn to eat correctly. By the way, it has happened more than once that children inhaled pieces of poorly chewed apples. You can puree fruits to avoid unexpected situations.

Before this trouble, Andryusha already ate unprocessed food, says Oksana. “But now I try to chop the potatoes in the soup as much as possible, cut the meat into small pieces, and grind coarse fruits. This makes it easier for my son to eat, and it makes me calmer.

If your child coughs while eating and their skin starts to turn blue, something may have gotten into their lungs.

Sometimes while playing, children put small parts in their mouths so as not to lose them, says Evgeniy Simonets. - But, having played too much, they forget about them and swallow them. Foreign objects do not necessarily enter the lungs. They also get stuck in the esophagus, which has natural narrowings. In our practice, there was a case when a screw got into the child’s respiratory tract. It was impossible to remove it with a bronchoscope - it was wedged into the wall of the bronchus. I had to do a major operation - a thoracotomy.

Do fish bones have to be removed from the esophagus? - I ask Evgeny Nikolaevich.

Yes, we also have such patients. Fish bones are very dangerous. Once in the esophagus or respiratory tract, they usually stick their points into the walls of the organ. And when breathing or swallowing, they gradually move away, injuring the tissue even more. There is a girl in our department who has been wandering around hospitals since June. The fish bone got stuck in the respiratory tract, and inflammation began. Both bronchitis and pneumonia were treated. When the patient was referred to us, the fish bone had already resolved, but the mucus accumulated in the lungs could only be removed with the help of a bronchoscope.

How dangerous is it to get chewing gum into your lungs?

If chewing gum closes the bronchial tubes, the child may suffocate. Once in the bronchi themselves, the gum becomes viscous and loose. It has to be taken out in several stages, piece by piece.

What symptoms indicate that a foreign object has entered the child’s lungs?

The baby salivates profusely, it is difficult for him to swallow, he may refuse to eat - this means that there is, for example, a fish bone in the esophagus. If your child suddenly coughs or chokes and their skin begins to turn blue, something may have gotten into their lungs. In any case, you need to contact specialists. Then the treatment will take no more than a day.

It happens that a woman who is in the clinic with her baby does not tell her husband what caused the illness. Afraid of reproach: “I didn’t keep an eye on the child!”

Some men do not understand that this can happen to an adult, says Evgeniy Simonets. - The main thing is to know where to go to get qualified help. And then there will be no complications or health consequences.

The beginning of the beach season involves not only fun activities in the water, but also the emergence of some risks. First of all, there is a risk that the child may choke while swimming. In this case, adults need to clearly understand what needs to be done if water gets into the child’s lungs.

What is the danger when a child gets water into his lungs?

The presence of fluid in the lungs can cause inflammation of the tissues, possibly causing pulmonary failure, and this condition is life-threatening for the child. In order for the child to start breathing normally, everything must be done to remove water from the respiratory tract.

What needs to be done in order to remove water from a child’s lungs?

First of all, it is necessary to learn the correct sequence of providing first aid to a person who has water in his lungs. First you need to figure out how much water the child swallowed.

If a child does not get a very large amount of water into his lungs, he is unlikely to lose consciousness; rather, he will have a severe cough.

The color of the child's skin indicates that there is already water in the lungs. If the child's skin acquires a bluish tint, this means that the water has reached the lungs and there is a fairly large amount of water there. If the skin is pale, this indicates that the water has not yet reached the lungs. In this case, the child may lose consciousness.

While the child is unconscious, water that enters the lungs will come out as a foamy liquid. Liquid may come out not only from the mouth, but also from the nose.

Watch the video film “Water Got into the Child’s Lungs”:

First of all, you need to make sure that an ambulance is called. It is also necessary to take active steps to remove water from the lungs and resume breathing. To do this, it is necessary to give the child artificial respiration. However, before this, it is necessary to remove water from the lungs. To do this, you can tilt the child’s head and tap on the back between the shoulder blades.

Sometimes such actions do not give the desired result, and it is simply impossible to remove water from the lungs. In this case, another method can be used, but it will only be effective if the child is conscious.

It is necessary to ask the victim to stand up and place a hand clenched into a fist on the lower abdomen (below the rib), but keep the hands above the navel. Then you need to sharply push and press on the stomach.

Such manipulations can be performed several times, this helps to normalize breathing and water leaves the lungs.

If a child gets a lot of water into his lungs, then most likely he is in an unconscious state, and the following measures will be effective: it is necessary to turn the person face to the ground and rest his chest on his knee. Then you need to induce a gag reflex in a person, to do this you need to press on the root of the tongue. Perform clapping movements on the back between the shoulder blades. It is also necessary to constantly monitor the baby's heartbeat.

If such manipulations do not help, it is necessary to perform artificial respiration and cardiac massage. It is necessary to work in this rhythm until the ambulance arrives, and then transfer control of the situation to specialists.

Talk about the rules of behavior on the water, supervise children. As a rule, children who do not know or grossly violate the rules of behavior on the water find themselves in such situations.