CHOKING RESPONSE – Disaster Response Skills

Infographic showing step-by-step choking first aid response for adults, children, and infants, including recognition of choking signs, back blows, abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver), CPR after choking, common choking hazards, and prevention tips.

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Educational infographic showing common choking hazards, including food such as grapes, nuts, and large food chunks, small toys and toy parts, coins, batteries, bones, and small household objects that can block the airway.

Infographic comparing the signs of mild and severe choking. Mild choking includes the ability to cough, speak, and breathe with difficulty, while severe choking includes inability to speak, cough, or breathe, hands clutching the throat, blue lips, loss of consciousness, and the need to call emergency services immediately.

Educational infographic showing choking prevention tips, including cutting food into small pieces, supervising children while eating and playing, keeping small objects out of children's reach, and teaching life-saving skills to prevent choking emergencies.

Managing FBAO (Foreign Body Airway Obstruction) in Adults & Children

- Responsive Adult/Child(Patient Standing or Sitting)
1) Firstly, introduce yourself and ask permission.
2) Determine if the obstruction is complete or partial obstruction with poor air exchange. Ask, “Are you choking?” or “Can you speak?”
3) If partial obstruction, encourage the patient to cough, if unable to cough follow further steps.
4) Get in position. Stand behind the patient. Place one leg between the patient’s legs to obtain astable position.
5) Position your hands. Reach around with one hand to locate the patient’s navel. Make a fist with one hand, place the thumb-side of the fist against the patient’s abdomen, slightly above the navel and below the Xiphoid process.
6) Perform an abdominal thrust. Grasp your fist with the first hand and pull in and up with swift firm thrusts.
7) Repeat thrusts until the object is expelled from the airway or the patient becomes unconscious.

Note- If the patient becomes unresponsive before you are able to clear the airway obstruction, direct someone to call EMS and Begin CPR.

Step-by-step infographic demonstrating first aid for a choking adult. The rescuer delivers five back blows followed by five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver), repeating the cycle until the airway is cleared or the person becomes unconscious.

Managing FBAO (Foreign Body Airway Obstruction) in Pregnant or Obese Responsive Adult

- Chest thrusts are to be used only with patients in late stages of pregnancy or with the markedly obese, when abdominal thrusts cannot be applied effectively.

1) Determine if the obstruction is complete or partial obstruction with poor air exchange. Follow the same process as above directed.
2) Get in position. Stand behind the patient, with your arms directly under the patient’s armpits and encircle the patient’s chest.
3) Position your hands. Place the thumb-side of your fist along the patient’s sternum, avoiding the Xiphoid process and margins of the rib cage.
4) Perform a chest thrust. Grab your fist with the other hand and perform 5 chest thrusts in rapid succession. Observe for evidence that the object has been removed.
5) If the patient’s airway remains obstructed, repeat the thrusts until the object is expelled from the airway or the patient becomes unconscious.
6) If the patient becomes unresponsive before you are able to clear the airway obstruction, activate the EMS and begin CPR.

Rescuer performing choking first aid on a pregnant or obese adult using five back blows followed by five chest thrusts, with step-by-step emergency response instructions.

Managing FBAO (Foreign Body Airway Obstruction) in Infants

- Always suspect foreign body airway obstruction in infants who demonstrate a sudden onset of respiratory distress associated with gagging, coughing or wheezing. Most common causes are toys or other small objects (coins).

1) Verify complete airway obstruction. Serious breathing difficulty, ineffective cough, no strong cry.
2) Position the infant. Straddle the infant face down over one of your forearms, head lower than the body. Support the infant’s head by holding the jaw with your hand.
3) Deliver 5 back blows. Use the heel of your hand between the shoulder blades. If foreign object is not expelled, position the infant face-up on your arm, head lower than the body.
4) Deliver 5 chest thrusts. Position your middle and ring fingers in the middle of the infant’s sternum, just below the imaginary line between the infant’s nipples. Use a quick downward motion.
5) Repeat steps 2 to 4 until effective, or until infant becomes unconscious.

6) Begin CPR when the infant becomes unconscious and direct someone to activate EMS.

Rescuer performing infant choking first aid by giving 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts to a baby under 1 year old, shown in a step-by-step emergency response infographic.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Identify choking severity immediately.
Encourage coughing for partial blockage.
Act quickly during severe choking.
Use age-appropriate first aid techniques.
Begin CPR if unconscious.

Do's

Dont's

Pro Tips to Remember

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs of a choking emergency?

A person who is choking may be unable to speak, cough, or breathe. They may clutch their throat, make high-pitched or silent breathing sounds, turn blue around the lips or face (cyanosis), or become unconscious if the airway remains completely blocked. Immediate first aid is essential.

What should I do if an adult is choking?

If the person cannot cough, speak, or breathe, encourage them to cough if possible. If the airway remains blocked, give 5 back blows between the shoulder blades followed by 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver). Repeat the cycle until the object is expelled or the person becomes unconscious. Call 108 or your local emergency medical services as soon as possible.

Can I perform the Heimlich maneuver on a pregnant or obese person?

No. Abdominal thrusts should not be performed on pregnant or significantly obese individuals. Instead, give 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts until the airway is cleared or emergency medical help arrives.

What should I do if a choking person becomes unconscious?

Carefully lower the person to the ground, call 108 or have someone call for emergency medical services, and begin CPR. Each time you open the airway to give rescue breaths, look for a visible object in the mouth and remove it only if it can be safely seen. Do not perform blind finger sweeps.

Should I remove an object from a person's mouth with my fingers?

Only remove the object if it is clearly visible and easily reachable. Never perform a blind finger sweep, as it may push the object deeper into the airway or cause additional injury.

When should I seek medical attention after a choking incident?

Medical evaluation is recommended even if the object has been successfully removed. Seek immediate medical care if the person has persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, throat pain, chest discomfort, bleeding, or if abdominal or chest thrusts were required, as internal injuries or airway complications may occur.

Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical training or advice. In real emergencies, always follow guidelines of qualified medical professionals.