National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

In the scenario of a choking incident, the most immediate and effective remedy is to apply quick, hard pressures to the abdomen just beneath the diaphragm, known as the Heimlich maneuver. This technique is designed to create abdominal pressure that can help expel the obstructing object from the airway. When done correctly, the thrusts can force air from the lungs, potentially dislodging the piece of food causing the choking and allowing the person to breathe again.

Other options may involve helpful actions, but they are not as effective in the heat of the moment. For instance, having the person bend forward and cough may assist if they can still breathe and are merely experiencing a partial obstruction. However, in a situation where the individual cannot breathe or talk and is visibly distressed, this would not promptly resolve the emergency.

Using fingers or a blunt object to try to remove the obstruction can be dangerous and may further push the object down the throat or cause injury, which is counterproductive when someone is choking.

While it is essential to call for emergency help in a serious situation, doing so would not provide immediate relief for the choking incident itself. Therefore, applying the abdominal thrusts is the best course of action in this urgent scenario.