Choking First Aid
Choking occurs when an object blocks the throat or windpipe, cutting off air to the lungs. Acting quickly is critical.
Key Goal:To dislodge the object and restore normal breathing. The techniques differ for adults/children and infants.
- Mayo Clinic. Choking: First aid. Learn More.
- American Red Cross. Choking First Aid Steps. View Guide.
Step-by-step guide for a choking emergency.
1. Assess the Situation
First, ask the person, "Are you choking?" The universal sign for choking is clutching the throat with one or both hands.
If the person can cough forcefully, speak, or breathe: Encourage them to keep coughing to clear the object on their own. Do not perform first aid.
If the person cannot cough, speak, or breathe, or is making high-pitched noises: They need immediate help. Tell someone to call for emergency medical help.
2. For a Conscious Adult or Child (Over 1 Year)
Use the "Five-and-Five" approach:
- Give 5 Back Blows: Stand to the side and just behind a choking adult. For a child, kneel down behind. Place one arm across the person's chest for support. Bend the person over at the waist so that the upper body is parallel with the ground. Deliver five separate back blows between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
- Give 5 Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver): Stand behind the person. Wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist with one hand. Place the thumb side of your fist slightly above their navel. Grasp the fist with your other hand. Press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust — as if trying to lift the person up.
- Alternate: Continue alternating between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.
3. For a Conscious Infant (Under 1 Year)
- Support the Infant: Sit down and hold the infant face down on your forearm, which is resting on your thigh. Support the infant's head and jaw with your hand. The head should be lower than the rest of the body.
- Give 5 Back Blows: Deliver five gentle but firm back blows between the infant's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
- Give 5 Chest Thrusts: If the object is not dislodged, turn the infant face up on your forearm, resting on your thigh. Place two fingers of your other hand in the center of their chest, just below the nipples. Give five quick chest compressions.
- Alternate: Continue alternating between 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the infant becomes unconscious.
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional first aid training. Always have someone call for emergency medical help immediately in a choking situation. If the person becomes unconscious, carefully lower them to the ground and begin CPR.