Welcome back to our three-part blog series on summertime adventures. In this post, we\u2019re taking a close look at hiking, the beloved outdoor activity that helps us get away from it all.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s nothing quite like the feeling of leaving the car behind and setting off on foot into the wilderness. Whether you\u2019re taking a coastal walk along a bluff trail or delving deep into a thick forest, there\u2019s something magical about exploring areas that are hard to get to.<\/p>\n
On the flipside, these areas are also hard to get to for first responders should anything go wrong. And when it comes to choking, the first few moments are critical. After just four minutes<\/a> without oxygen, a choking victim can begin to experience brain damage.<\/p>\n This is why hikers need to be prepared to rely on themselves in a choking emergency. Here are our best prevention and first-aid tips for hikers who are concerned about choking:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re heading out for a hike that\u2019s more than a couple of hours, you\u2019re probably planning to take some food with you. Whether you\u2019ve got a backpack filled with sandwiches and snacks on a day hike or you\u2019re doing a long, multi-day stretch, it\u2019s important to stop hiking while you eat.<\/p>\n Most adults feel pretty confident about eating while walking, but the truth is that your choking risk goes way up if you eat while moving around rather than sitting still. When hiking, that risk may be even higher if you\u2019re walking on uneven ground, not focusing on eating, or if you\u2019re breathing harder than usual. When you\u2019re a long way from help, it\u2019s just not worth the risk. Don\u2019t munch on a handful of granola while you hike. Find a nice spot, have a seat, and simply take a break for a few minutes to enjoy your food safely.<\/p>\n The best thing anyone who is worried about choking can do for peace of mind \u2014 whether you\u2019re a hiker or not \u2014 is familiarize yourself with first-aid treatments. Before you head out on the trail, away from others who might know how to help someone who is choking, it\u2019s time to brush up yourself.<\/p>\n The American Red Cross, along with first responders and medical groups worldwide, recommend an alternating combination of two techniques to help a choking person:<\/p>\n The Red Cross recommends a \u201cfive-and-five\u201d approach of doing five abdominal thrusts, then five back slaps, and repeating until the cause of the choking is dislodged from the airway.<\/p>\n You now know what to do if someone is choking, but what if those first-aid treatments fail? Or what if you\u2019re hiking alone and you choke? We recommend a backup plan:\u00a0The Dechoker<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our innovative anti-choking device is an alternative to standard treatments. It\u2019s lightweight and portable, fitting easily in a hiking pack, and it\u2019s so easy to use that most adults could use it on themselves. We believe everyone should have every tool possible at their disposal in a choking emergency, and especially in high-risk situations such as on a hike, a long way from help. Learn more about how to use The Dechoker\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\nStop hiking to eat.<\/h2>\n
Brush up on first-aid techniques.<\/h2>\n
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Take a Dechoker.<\/h2>\n