Man dies of asphyxiation after choking on couscous in Alagoas

Choking: find out how to do the Heimlich Maneuver A 41-year-old man died from mechanical asphyxiation after choking while eating couscous, in Arapiraca, in Agreste de Alagoas. The cause of José Pinheiro da Silva Júnior's death was confirmed by the Legal Medical Institute (IML). ?Join the g1 Alagoas channel The case happened on Wednesday (12), in the Brasília neighborhood. According to information obtained, José was at home when he choked. He even tried to get help in the backyard, but lost consciousness, suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest and died. Risk with crumbly foods Coroner Germano Jatobá, responsible for the necropsy examination at the IML in Arapiraca, confirmed that the death was caused by obstruction of the airways. According to him, other similar cases have already been recorded, including involving people who choked while eating couscous. Drier or crumblier foods can pose a risk when they are not chewed properly or consumed quickly. Particles can travel to the trachea instead of the esophagus and block the passage of air. The consumption of alcohol and other substances also increases the risk, as it reduces the reflexes responsible for protecting the airways. According to Germano Jatobá, the risk of choking is also higher among the elderly. "This type of occurrence is frequently observed in elderly people, mainly due to sarcopenia, which is the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. The condition can compromise the ability to chew and swallow, increasing the risk of choking", he explained. How to act in case of choking Breitner Lima, nurse at the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu), explained that chewing, swallowing and breathing depend on coordinated movements. When there is a failure in this process, food can enter the airways and cause an obstruction. “At one of these moments, if you fail, this bolus of food will go down the airway and become obstructed, causing a mechanical obstruction,” he explained. According to the nurse, if the choking person can still speak or cough, they should ask for help and continue trying to expel the food. It is not recommended to offer water or other foods during choking. In cases of severe obstruction, when the person is unable to speak, cough or breathe, EMS must be called immediately by calling 192. According to Breitner, current guidelines include five blows between the shoulder blades, in the back region, followed by five abdominal compressions in adults, repeating the maneuvers until the object is expelled or the victim loses consciousness. If the person faints, basic life support should be started while emergency care is on the way. “Samu must be called even before starting the maneuvers, because, if the patient's condition worsens, Samu will already be on the way and this patient will not lose his life in a matter of minutes”, said the nurse. José Pinheiro da Silva Júnior, aged 41, died choking on couscous in Arapiraca (AL). Personal file