If someone is choking, it is an emergency because the airway is blocked. Quick, correct action can save their life.
Recognize Choking
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Mild choking: Person can still cough, speak, or breathe.
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Severe choking: Person cannot speak, cough, or breathe, may clutch their throat, turn red or blue, and eventually lose consciousness.
If It’s Mild Choking
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Encourage the person to cough forcefully to try to expel the object.
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Do not give back blows or the Heimlich maneuver unless it becomes severe.
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Stay with them until the obstruction clears.
If It’s Severe Choking (Adult or Child over 1 year)
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Ask: “Are you choking?”
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If they nod and cannot speak, act immediately.
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Give up to 5 back blows:
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Stand slightly to the side and behind the person.
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Support their chest with one hand and bend them forward at the waist.
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Deliver firm blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand.
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If the object is not cleared, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver):
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Stand behind the person.
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Wrap your arms around their waist.
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Make a fist and place it just above the belly button.
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Grasp the fist with your other hand and pull sharply inward and upward.
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Alternate back blows and abdominal thrusts until the object comes out or the person becomes unconscious.
If the Person Becomes Unconscious
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Call emergency services immediately.
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Begin CPR (30 chest compressions, then check the mouth for the object, remove it if visible, and give 2 rescue breaths).
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Continue until help arrives or the person breathes normally.
Special Situations
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Pregnant or obese person: Use chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.
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Infants under 1 year: Do not use abdominal thrusts. Use 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts (two fingers on the chest, just below the nipple line) alternately.
Do Not
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Do not give food or drink until they are fully recovered.
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Do not attempt to “sweep” the mouth with your fingers unless you can clearly see the object.
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