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Choking First Aid

Choking first aid is used when a piece of food or other foreign object becomes lodged in the windpipe or throat of a choking victim blocking the person's air flow. In adult choking the culprit is most commonly a piece of food. Infant choking is usually caused by the child swallowing a small foreign object. Administer first aid to a choking victim as fast as possible because the brain's oxygen supply could be cut off.

When our son Nicholas was two years old, I remember sitting there with him when he tore a piece of foam from the stereo speaker and popped it into his mouth. It happened so fast! He started choking. Then he began to turn blue. I panicked for a second, then I quickly gave him the Heimlich maneuver and the foam literally flew from his mouth. Oh my gosh! I was shaking. I don't even remember if he cried or not. I felt so thankful that I had taken a CPR class.

Hands clutching the throat is a universal sign for choking.

If a choking victim does not give this universal sign, look for these other signs:

They can not talk.
They are having trouble breathing or may be gasping for air.
They can not forcefully cough.
They may turn blue in the lips, nails or skin.
They may loose consciousness.

When giving first aid to a choking victim it is recommended by the Red Cross to use the (five-and-five) approach.

The first step would be to put the heel of your hand between the person's shoulder blades and then give five back blows.
The next step would be to give the Heimlich maneuver, which would be five abdominal thrusts.
The final step would be to start with the five back blows and then give five abdominal thrusts alternating between the two until you have dislodged the blockage.

If you are alone with the victim, deliver five back blows and five abdominal thrusts then call 9-1-1.

If there is more than one person, have the other person call for help while you are delivering choking first aid to the victim.

If you are performing abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on another person here are the steps you would take:

Position yourself behind the person.
Place your arms around the person's waist.
Position the person so they are slightly leaning forward.
Take the fist of your hand placing it directly above their naval and below their ribcage.
With the other hand grasp your fist.
With a quick upward thrust, press hard into the abdomen as though you were lifting the victim up.
Continue delivering abdominal thrusts until the obstruction is dislodged or if the victim becomes unconscious.

(See video for complete choking first aid)

To perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself:

Slightly above your naval place your fist.
With the other hand grasp your fist and bend over a countertop or chair.
With an inward and upward motion shove your fist into your abdomen.

To perform the Heimlich maneuver on a pregnant or obese person:

You will want to place your fist in the center of the chest rather than the abdomen.
Deliver the Heimlich maneuver pressing hard into the chest with a quick thrust.
Continue delivering chest thrusts until the obstruction is dislodged or if the victim becomes unconscious.

If a person is unconscious, how do you clear the victim's airway?

First call 9-1-1.
Then put the victim on his back on the floor or ground.
Begin CPR chest compressions if the obstruction still remains lodged and the person is not responding. The chest compressions may dislodge the object. So check the mouth frequently to see if the object may have been dislodged.

For more information on choking first aid see the following videos:

Infant choking instructions
Child choking instructions
Adult choking instructions
These CPR and choking instructions and videos should not replace real CPR or First Aid training.

If you are ever uncertain of a person's condition, don't hesitate to call 9-1-1.

See the Following Video on Choking: