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First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

  • Chest Pain
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Severe Bleeding
  • Sudden Weakness or Numbness
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Swallowed Object Treatment

Call 911 if:

  • The airway is blocked or partially blocked.
  • The person cannot breathe or talk.

1. If Airway Is Blocked

 

2. If Airway Is Partially Blocked

 

  • Encourage the person to cough to dislodge swallowed object.
  • Do not perform Heimlich maneuver, thump the back, or attempt to remove object. 

 

3. When to See a Doctor

 

See a doctor immediately if:

 

  • The person may have swallowed something poisonous. See Poisoning Treatment.
  • The person swallowed a sharp object or something metal.
  • The object may be stuck in the esophagus.
  • The person is coughing, wheezing, or vomiting.

 

4. Follow Up

 

If you see a doctor, follow-up will depend on the type and location of the swallowed object and severity of symptoms.

 

  • The doctor may order X-rays to locate the object in the body.
  • The doctor may try to remove it.
  • In most cases, swallowed objects pass through the system without causing injury or requiring surgery.

 

If you do not see a doctor after an object is swallowed or if your doctor asks you to:

 

  • Check stools for the object.
  • Call doctor if the object doesn't show up in stools within seven days.

 

more information from eMedicineHealth

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Andrew Seibert, MD on January 08, 2012
© 2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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