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DRAFT — NOT FOR PUBLIC EMERGENCY USE
Draft content aligned with ILCOR/AHA resuscitation guidelines, IFRC/Red Cross first aid guidance, WHO emergency care principles, and NFPA fire safety standards. Requires expert review before publication.
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If someone needs immediate help with choking help, use emergency mode.
Do this nowChoking Help
Complete airway blockage kills within minutes. Recognizing severe choking quickly and acting — or calling for help — prevents brain damage and death.
Follow these in order when you need this skill.
Signs: clutching the throat, unable to speak or cough effectively, silent or high-pitched sounds, blue lips, panic. Mild choking with strong coughing should be encouraged — do not interfere.
If they can speak or cough forcefully, encourage continued coughing. If they cannot speak and show severe signs, act immediately.
Stand behind the person. Give up to 5 sharp back blows between the shoulder blades. If ineffective, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich): fist above navel, pull inward and upward. Alternate until object comes out or person becomes unresponsive.
Hold infant face-down on your forearm, supporting the head. Give 5 back blows. Turn face-up and give 5 chest thrusts with two fingers on the breastbone. Never use abdominal thrusts on infants.
Lower them carefully to the ground. Call emergency services. Start CPR. Each time you open the airway to give breaths, look for the object in the mouth and remove it only if you can see it clearly.
Use chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts for pregnant women or people you cannot reach around. Always call for help.
Things that can make the situation worse
Review the steps out loud for adult, child, and infant choking. Identify one person in your household who should learn infant technique if you have a baby.
Question 1
An adult is coughing forcefully after food goes down the wrong way. What do you do?
Answer: Encourage them to keep coughing. Effective coughing means the airway is partially open. Encourage coughing — do not interfere with back blows or thrusts.
Question 2
Which technique is NEVER used on an infant under 1 year?
Answer: Abdominal thrusts. Infants receive back blows and chest thrusts only. Abdominal thrusts can cause serious injury in infants.
Practice this skill for these emergency situations.
More skills in Airway & choking.