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Child choking unconscious — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyPaediatric and Obstetric EmergenciesChild choking unconsciousDipIMC

A 5-year-old choking on a sweet becomes unconscious before the ambulance arrives. There is no effective breathing and no suction available. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Start CPR and look for an object when opening the airway

Option E is correct because An unconscious choking child should receive CPR with visible obstruction removed when seen. Option D is less appropriate because oxygen may be supportive, but it does not address the defining time-critical problem first; option C is less appropriate because vascular access is useful, but it should not delay the immediate priority. Option B is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option A is less appropriate because delay would increase clinical risk. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines