How-To Guides · Safety
How to Help an Adult Who Is Choking (Back Blows and Abdominal Thrusts)
If someone is choking, the next minute matters. Here are the steps for an adult or a child over one, following N H S ambulance service guidance. A first aid class is the best way to really learn it.
1. Can They Cough Or Talk?
If they can still cough, talk, or breathe, the airway is only partly blocked. Encourage them to keep coughing, and to spit it out. Don't reach into their mouth if you can't see the object.
2. Can'T Cough, Talk, Or Breathe
If they can't cough, talk, or breathe, act now. If someone else is there, have them call nine one one right away.
3. Step 1: Up To 5 Back Blows
Stand behind them, a little to one side. Support their chest with one hand, and lean them forward. With the heel of your other hand, give up to five sharp blows between the shoulder blades. Check if it's cleared after each one.
4. Step 2: Up To 5 Abdominal Thrusts
If it's still stuck, stand behind them and wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist, and place it just above the belly button. Grab it with your other hand, and pull sharply in, and up. Up to five times.
5. Step 3: Keep Going
Still blocked? Call nine one one if no one has. Keep switching, five back blows, then five abdominal thrusts, until it comes out, or help arrives. If they go unresponsive and stop breathing, start C P R.
6. Important
Don't give abdominal thrusts to a pregnant woman, or a baby under one. Babies need a different method. And anyone who's had abdominal thrusts should see a doctor afterward, even if they feel fine.
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Checked against the official sources above. Steps can change as apps update - tell us if something looks different: wischavenindustries@gmail.com