Seeing someone choking is a terrifying situation that can happen unexpectedly, and knowing how to respond quickly and effectively can save a life. Whether you’re at a restaurant, home, or in a public space, being prepared to act is crucial. 

Here, we will walk you through the steps to take when someone is choking, but it’s important to emphasise the value of proper first aid training. While online guides can be useful for understanding the basics, formal training should be considered essential for administering first aid, as it ensures you know how to administer all the correct procedures with confidence and without risking further harm to the affected person.

Recognising the Signs of Choking

Before diving into the actions you need to take, it’s essential to recognise when someone is choking. A choking person may show the following signs:

• Inability to speak or cry out: The airway is blocked, making it impossible to make sounds.
• Clutching the throat: This is often an instinctive reaction to choking and is widely recognised as the universal sign for choking.
• Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing: The person may be gasping for air or making wheezing sounds.
• Bluish skin, lips, or nails: A sign of oxygen deprivation.
• Panicked behaviour: The person may be agitated or appear distressed.

Step 1: Assess the Situation

When you suspect someone is choking, stay calm and quickly assess the situation. Determine whether the airway is partially or fully blocked. If the person is coughing forcefully, encourage them to continue coughing, as this can help dislodge the object. Coughing is a natural reflex that can clear the airway.

If the person is unable to cough, speak, or breathe, it indicates a complete airway obstruction and immediate action is required.

Step 2: Administer Back Blows

For adults and children over the age of one, the first step is to try five back blows, followed by 5 abdominal thrusts, as explained below.

1. Stand behind the choking person and slightly to one side. Support their chest with one hand.
2. Lean the person forward so that the object causing the obstruction will exit the mouth, not move further down the airway.
3. With the heel of your other hand, give five sharp back blows between the person’s shoulder blades.

Check to see if the object is dislodged after the back blows. If the person is still choking, move to the next step.

Step 3: Perform Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver)

If back blows are not effective, you need to perform abdominal thrusts, commonly known as the Heimlich manoeuvre:

1. Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
2. Make a fist with one hand and place it just above the person’s navel (belly button), thumb side in.
3. Grasp your fist with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards.
4. Perform up to five abdominal thrusts.

The goal is to apply enough pressure to force the object out of the airway. Continue alternating between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive.

Step 4: Call for Help

If this does not remove the obstruction, call your local emergency services (such as 999) or instruct someone to do so. Time is of the essence, and getting professional medical assistance on the way should be a priority. If you do not have first aid training, the call handler will be able to instruct you on what next steps to take until help arrives.

The Importance of First Aid Training

While this guide provides a basic understanding of what to do if someone is choking, it cannot replace the confidence and skill that comes with formal first aid training. Enrolling in a first aid or CPR course will teach you how to respond to choking and other medical emergencies more effectively.

Training courses often include practical, hands-on experience that helps reinforce the correct techniques and gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get expert advice. In an emergency, having this training could make all the difference between life and death.

Choking is a serious and life-threatening emergency, but knowing what to do if someone is choking can save a life. Remember to stay calm, act quickly, and follow the steps outlined above. Most importantly, consider getting trained in first aid to ensure that you’re fully prepared to handle such situations confidently and competently. Your actions in those critical moments can be the key to someone’s survival.To learn more about our first aid courses, please get in touch.