Choking

hellonotarealdr
Jun 10
2 min read

Updated: Jun 23

Choking is when food or drink goes down the airway instead of the oesophagus*, partially or completely blocking it. Quick action during a choking episode can save the casualty's life.

What you might see:

Difficulty breathing/speaking (mild blockage)
Completely unable to breathe/speak (severe/total blockage)
Red/purple colour around the face
Pointing/grasping at throat

What to do

Ask "are you choking?": this may sound obvious, but the quality of response can tell you whether they have a mild or total blockage. If they can respond to you, even if it sounds like it's difficult to speak, it is a mild blockage.
Give up to 5 back blows
- To do this, stand behind the casualty and slam the heel* of your hand into their back (in the middle of their ribs)
If back blows are not working, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre)
- To give abdominal thrusts:
- Put one hand in a fist at the bottom of the casualty's sternum*
- Wrap the other hand around it - you should be standing behind the casualty almost "hugging" them from behind now
- Pull towards you as fast as possible
If abdominal thrusts used, call emergency services

Stretch!

If someone becomes unresponsive while choking, first aid advice changes — you should start CPR, checking the mouth between compressions for the blockage.

Summary:

Choking can be very dangerous, but quick action can save lives. You should give the casualty up to 5 back blows, and - if they are still choking - up to 5 abdominal thrusts. If you have to use abdominal thrusts, you should call the ambulance.

Glossary:

Oesophagus: (pronounced a-SOF-a-gus) this is the food tube that takes food from your mouth to your stomach.

Heel (of the hand): this is the hard part of your hand just above your wrist.

Sternum: the breastbone - the central bone in the middle of the chest where your ribs join up. When doing abdominal thrusts at the bottom of the sternum, this means in the soft part just in the middle of your body, below the ribs.

For Older Learners:

Use these questions to challenge yourself!

What could be the risks of using back blows or abdominal thrusts on someone with known medical conditions (e.g. osteoporosis, pregnancy, abdominal surgery)?
Should abdominal thrusts be taught and used more cautiously given their risks? Why or why not?
Why do you think it’s important to distinguish between mild and severe choking before starting back blows or abdominal thrusts? What could happen if you acted too soon or too late?