First Aid for Corrections Officers Practice Test 2025 – The All-in-One Resource to Master Your Exam Success!

An obstructed airway is a condition where there is a blockage in the airway, preventing air from reaching the lungs. This obstruction can be caused by various factors, including food, foreign objects, or even the patient's own tongue in cases of unconsciousness. When the airway is obstructed, the individual struggles to breathe, leading to a potential medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.

Recognizing an obstructed airway is critical because the inability to breathe can result in hypoxia, unconsciousness, and potentially death if not addressed swiftly. Rescuers are trained to identify signs of an obstructed airway, such as difficulty speaking, coughing, or the universal choking sign. Clearing the airway can involve techniques such as the Heimlich maneuver for adults or back blows and chest thrusts for infants.

While conditions like anaphylactic shock can lead to airway complications due to swelling, the term specifically points to the blockage itself rather than the reaction or cause. Amputation and arterial bleeding are serious injuries, but they do not directly refer to issues with breathing or airway obstruction.