What to Do If Someone is Choking?

Someone chokes when their airway suddenly becomes completely or partially obstructed, making it impossible for them to breathe or breathe adequately. But what can I do when someone’s choking? What are the signs of choking in a child? Well, we’ll get that all sorted out today.

Mild choking: Induce coughing in them 

For mild choking, the sufferer will typically be able to speak, cry, cough, or breathe if the airway is just partially closed. 

Usually, they can remove the obstruction on their own. 

To assist an adult who is mildly choking: 

• Encourage them to continue coughing in an effort to remove the obstruction.
• If anything is in their mouth, advise them to attempt to spit it out rather than putting your fingers in there to assist them because they might bite you inadvertently. 
• When coughing fails, begin back blows.

Back strikes and abdominal thrusts for severe choking 

During a severe case of choking, the victim won’t be capable of speaking, weeping, coughing, or breathing. They’ll eventually pass out if left alone. 

To strike an adult in the back: 

Place yourself behind them, a little to one side. They hold their chest up with one hand. Leaning them forward will cause the object obstructing their airway to exit their mouth rather than descend further. 

With the top of your hand, strike them up to five times between the shoulder blades. In between the middle of your hand and the wrist is the heel. 

See if the obstruction has been cleared. Give up to five abdominal thrusts if not.

Stomach thrusts 

Giving abdominal thrusts to infants under 1 year olds or pregnant women is not advised. 

To perform a stomach thrust: 

• Place yourself behind the choking individual. 
• Bend them forward and wrap your arm around their waist. 
• Place your clenched fist just above their belly button. 
• Pull firmly inward and upward with the other hand while placing it on top of your fist. 
• Up to five times can be added to this movement. 
• Get assistance right away if the person’s airways is still closed after trying back and abdominal thrusts

To open an infant’s airway who is choking and is under 1 years old

• Hold the baby on your forearm while sitting. On your thigh, place your forearm. Hold the baby’s jaw and chin to support his or her head. Head should be lower than the trunk
• Five times on the centre of the back, softly but forcefully thud the baby. Make use of your hand’s heel. To avoid hitting the baby’s head on the back, point your fingers upward. The obstruction needs to be released by gravity and back thumps. 
• If breathing hasn’t started yet, place the baby face-up on your forearm. Your arm should be on your thigh. Baby’s head should be lower than its trunk. 
• Five chest compressions with your fingertips should be light but strong. 
• Two fingers should be placed directly underneath the nipple line. Place a 1 1/2 inch pressure. Allow the chest to expand in between compressions. 
• If breathing doesn’t begin, perform the back thumps and chest compressions. Request immediate medical assistance. 
• If the baby’s airway is clean but he or she still isn’t breathing, start newborn CPR.

Call 999 and let them know someone is choking. Request for an ambulance when you dial 999 for an emergency first aid choking service.  

Till assistance arrives, continue to alternate 5 back strikes and 5 abdominal thrusts. 

If they stop breathing and go unconscious, Chest compressions should be used to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).