Choking First Aid: Step‑by‑Step Guide to Back Blows and Chest Thrusts

Choking is a life‑threatening emergency. Immediate action can dislodge the object and restore breathing. Follow these steps for a conscious adult or child over one year old.

First Aid for a Conscious Choking Person

1. Give five back blows. Stand or kneel behind the person. Place one hand between the shoulder blades for support. With the heel of your other hand, deliver five quick, forceful blows between the shoulder blades.
2. Perform five chest thrusts. If the object is not expelled, stand or kneel in front. Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the sternum (between the nipples). Give five quick, inward thrusts, about 2 inches (5 cm) deep.
3. Alternate back blows and chest thrusts. Continue cycles of five back blows and five chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.

If the Person Becomes Unconscious

1. Call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
2. Begin CPR. If you are trained, start chest compressions and rescue breaths. If untrained, perform hands‑only CPR (continuous chest compressions) until help arrives.
3. Continue CPR until the person starts breathing, an AED is available, or emergency responders take over.

Special Considerations

Pregnant individuals or those with a large abdomen: Use abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) instead of chest thrusts. Place a fist just above the navel, grasp it with the other hand, and give five quick, upward thrusts.

Never hesitate to act. Choking can lead to brain damage or death within minutes. Quick, confident first aid saves lives.