Wisconsin CNA State Exam Vocabulary Practice

What is an abdominal thrust used for?

1. Administering medication

2. Removing airway obstruction

3. Performing CPR

4. Checking pulse rate

The correct answer is: Removing airway obstruction

An abdominal thrust, often referred to as the Heimlich maneuver, is specifically designed to remove an obstruction from a person's airway. When an individual is choking and unable to breathe, speak, or cough effectively, abdominal thrusts can help expel the object blocking the airway by creating a strong upward pressure on the diaphragm. This force can dislodge the obstruction and allow air to flow back into the lungs, enabling the person to breathe again. The other options do not align with the function of abdominal thrusts: administering medication does not involve physically dislodging objects; CPR is a sequence of life-saving techniques for those who have stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped, and checking pulse rate involves monitoring heart activity rather than addressing an obstruction in the airway.