What To Do When Someone is Choking

A child who is choking may be clutching at their chest or neck and won’t be able to speak, breathe or cough.

1. Give up to five back blows: hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades. If back blows do not dislodge the object, move on to step 2. Back blows create a strong vibration and pressure in the airway, which is often enough to dislodge the blockage. Dislodging the blockage will allow them to breathe again.

2. Give up to five abdominal thrusts: hold the child around the waist and pull inwards and upwards above their belly button. Abdominal thrusts squeeze the air out of the lungs and may dislodge the blockage.

3. Call 911 if the blockage does not dislodge. Continue with cycles of back blows and abdominal thrusts until the blockage dislodges, help arrives, or the child becomes unresponsive. If you can’t call 911, get someone else to do it.