You must have heard about a medical condition called swallowing of the tongue, which usually occurs to football players during matches. In this article, we will talk about first aid for swallowing the tongue. Flaccid tongue is a medical condition that occurs mainly due to loss of consciousness as a result of serious injuries, such as exposure to a traffic accident. Here is how to treat swallowing of the tongue and more information about this medical condition:
Tongue swallowing aid
Tongue swallowing is a medical condition in which the tongue muscle relaxes, which causes the tongue to move back, causing a blockage in the airways. The main cause of tongue swallowing is likely to be loss of consciousness. Here are the following ways to treat swallowing of the tongue caused by epilepsy and unconsciousness:
1. Aid for swallowing the tongue caused by loss of consciousness
Aiding the injured person and administering the necessary first aid to him during his unconsciousness until the emergency arrives is very important. Because that protects him from suffocation and preserves his life.
The goal of tongue swallowing aid is to open the airway with minimal movement of the cervical spine. Tongue swallowing aid must be performed by trained paramedics when there is suspicion of a spinal cord injury. Because moving or lifting the chin may cause the cervical spine to move, which leads to other damage.
Here are the steps to aid swallowing the tongue using the chin lift procedure
Kneel behind the casualty''s head, and immobilize and support the casualty''s head while aligning the head, neck, and spine.
Place your hands on either side of the face with your fingertips resting on the corner of your lower jaw.
Gently lift the jaw to open the airway and be very careful not to tilt the neck, as the movement of the jaw moves the tongue forward in the mouth, which opens the airway.
Do not put your fingers in the victim''s mouth, trying to push the jaw to open the airway.
Call 911 and ask for help as soon as possible.
2. Aid for swallowing the tongue caused by epilepsy
Epilepsy is also one of the causes of swallowing the tongue. The person with epilepsy may lose consciousness during epileptic seizures. Here are steps that explain how to aid swallowing the tongue for people with epilepsy:
Help the person get into a proper position if their epileptic seizure starts while standing.
Gently turn the person to one side to avoid inhaling or introducing any foreign objects into the airway.
Remove any potentially dangerous objects, such as sharp tools, to prevent any injuries.
Place a folded towel, jacket, or something similar under the patient''s head to keep it secure and steady.
Remove glasses if the patient is wearing them.
Loosen the tie and remove jewelry around the person''s neck, as it may obstruct breathing.
Calculate the duration of the seizure. If the epileptic seizure lasts for more than 5 minutes, you must call the emergency room.
Stay with the person until the seizure is over and they regain consciousness.
After the patient regains consciousness, there are some tips that you must follow after the end of the patient''s epileptic seizure, including:
Help the person to sit in a safe place after the spasm has stopped for several minutes, and when the person is able to speak, calmly explain to him that he has had a seizure.
Remain calm and calm the victim and those who witnessed the seizure.
Ask the patient if you can call a taxi or someone close to him to help him get home safely.
What should be avoided when swallowing the tongue first aid
When performing a tongue swallowing operation, you must avoid some procedures that may endanger the patient’s life or may lead to an exacerbation of the condition. Here are some of these steps:
Do not place a pillow under the head of the unconscious person This may cause his breathing to be disturbed.
Don''t try to force them to stand up.
Avoid slapping or splashing water on the unconscious.
Do not try to put any liquids in their mouth.
Do not stick your finger down the unconscious person''s throat, trying to remove anything that is not visible to you. Because this may cause them to enter the airway more, just remove any stuck object blocking the airway if it is visible to you, and press continuously on the person’s chest in the event that there is something stuck in the throat of the unconscious person that prevents them from breathing.
Do not leave the unconscious person unattended.
risks of losing consciousness
Loss of consciousness for long periods may lead to a lack of oxygen in the brain and thus brain damage, and suffocation can lead to death if left untreated.
Performing first aid can also cause complications, for example CPR can sometimes cause broken ribs.
