New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

If an adult patient has a foreign body obstruction but can cough forcefully, what should the EMS provider do?

1. Perform abdominal thrusts

2. Encourage them to cough

3. Start CPR immediately

4. Insert an airway adjunct

The correct answer is: Encourage them to cough

When an adult patient has a foreign body obstruction but can cough forcefully, encouraging them to cough is the most appropriate action. Coughing is a natural and effective response that can help expel the obstruction from the airway. It demonstrates that the patient has a sufficient airway and is able to ventilate adequately, making it safer to allow the patient to continue coughing rather than intervening with more invasive procedures. Other actions like performing abdominal thrusts are not recommended in this scenario because they could potentially worsen the patient's situation by further dislodging the object or causing injury, particularly since the patient is already able to cough, which indicates they are still ventilating. Starting CPR is only indicated if the patient becomes unresponsive and shows no signs of breathing, which is not applicable here as the patient is actively coughing. Inserting an airway adjunct is unnecessary when the patient is able to protect their own airway by coughing effectively. Thus, the recommended response is to support the patient’s natural ability to clear the obstruction by encouraging them to cough.