Do-This-Now Guide
Recognize it fast
Severe vs. Mild choking
- 🚨Severe (complete): cannot speak/cough/breathe, silent or high-pitched breathing, clutching throat. Act immediately.
- 😮💨Mild (partial): can cough or talk → encourage coughing and watch closely.
Adult & Child (≥1 year)
Alternate 5 back blows ↔ 5 abdominal thrusts
- 📱Call 112 (or have someone call).
- 👋5 back blows: stand to the side/behind, arm across chest, bend them forward; strike firmly between the shoulder blades 5 times.
- 🫷5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich): fist just above navel, grasp with the other hand; quick inward-upward thrusts ×5.
- 👶Special cases: pregnant or too large to encircle → use chest thrusts (center of chest) instead of abdominal thrusts.
Infant (<1 year)
Alternate 5 back blows ↔ 5 chest thrusts
- 📣Call 112 (or shout for help).
- 🖐️5 back blows: baby face-down along forearm/thigh, head lower than chest; 5 firm blows between shoulder blades.
- ☝️5 chest thrusts: turn face-up; two fingers on breastbone just below nipple line; press ~4 cm (1½ in) ×5.
If the person becomes unresponsive (any age)
Start CPR
- 🫀Lower to floor and begin CPR (30 compressions then try 2 breaths). Before breaths, look in the mouth and remove the object only if you see it. No blind finger sweeps.
What NOT to do
Common mistakes
- 🥤Don’t give water/food or slap the head.
- 👶Don’t perform abdominal thrusts on infants.
- ☝️Don’t use your fingers unless you see the object.
“Emergency medicines”?
- 💊For food/object choking there are no pills or sprays—hands-only techniques are the treatment.
- 🩺Allergic swelling causing airway blockage → use prescribed epinephrine auto-injector (adult 0.3 mg; child 0.15 mg). Repeat after 5–10 min if symptoms persist while awaiting EMS.
- 🧯Airway suction devices (LifeVac/Dechoker): use only after standard back blows/thrusts fail; evidence is limited.
Simple “Choking Kit”
Keep at home/clinic
- 😷Pocket mask for breaths during CPR.
- 🧤Nitrile gloves.
- 🔦Small flashlight.
- 💉Epinephrine auto-injector if you have severe allergies. (Training recommended.)
Illustrations
Adult, child and infant references
Demonstration videos (official)