Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Help someone else
• Method 2 of 2: Helping yourself

Choking means blocking the trachea, cutting off the airflow. Most adults choke from food getting trapped in the trachea. Children can choke if they get toys, coins or other small objects in the throat or windpipe. You can also choke from an accident, from drinking alcohol, or from swelling of the throat due to a severe allergic reaction. Without first aid, the lack of oxygen can cause serious brain damage, or even death from asphyxiation. If you or someone else is choking, it's important to know what you can do to help. Note: This article is about adults and children over 1 year. Babies under 1 year of age need different first aid.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Help someone else

1. Assess the situation. Make sure that the person is choking and try to find out if the trachea is partially or completely blocked. If the trachea is only partially blocked, try to get the person to cough so that he / she can clear the blockage on their own.
   • Signs of a partially blocked trachea include that the person may still be able to talk, cry, cough, or respond to you. Usually, the person can still breathe, even though it may be difficult and the face may turn pale.
   • Someone with a completely blocked trachea, on the other hand, cannot speak, cry, cough, or breathe. This person may be gesturing to indicate that he / she is choking (for example, by grasping the throat with both hands), and his / her lips and / or nails may turn blue from lack of oxygen.
2. Ask the other: "Are you choking?" If the person can still answer verbally, wait. Someone who is really choking cannot speak, but will nod or shake his / her head yes. It is important that you do not hit the back on someone whose trachea is only partially blocked, as there is a risk that the object will go deeper into the trachea and cause a complete blockage. If the person responds:
   • Then put him / her at ease. Let them know that you are there and can help if necessary.
   • Encourage the other person to cough so that the blockage is released. Do not hit the back.
   • Keep an eye on the situation, and be ready to help in case the trachea becomes completely blocked.
3. Provide first aid. If the other person is severely choked with a completely blocked trachea and is still conscious, tell them to give first aid. It is always good to let a conscious person know what you are going to do; then he / she can let you know if your help is needed.
   • If you are the only one who can help the other person, provide first aid before calling 911. If someone else is present, have him / her call 112 immediately.
4. Slap on the back. Note that the following instructions apply to someone sitting or standing.
   • Stand behind the person, slightly to the side. If you are right-handed, stand on the left, and if you are left-handed, stand on the right.
   • Support the victim's chest with one hand and let him / her lean forward so that the object blocking the windpipe can exit through his / her mouth (and not go further down the throat).
   • Give 5 powerful blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand (between your wrist and your palm). Pause after each hit to see if the blockage has already been cleared. If not, give five abdominal thrusts (see below).
5. Give abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). The Heimlich maneuver is a technique that should only be used on adults and children over 1 year of age. Do not use this technique on babies under 1 year old.
   • Stand behind the choking victim.
   • Wrap your arms around his / her waist and let him / her lean forward.
   • Make a fist and place it just above the navel, but below the sternum.
   • Place your other hand on top of your fist, then push both hands back into the stomach, using a hard, upward motion.
   • Perform these punches up to five times. After each punch, check whether the object has come out of the trachea. Stop if victim becomes unconscious.
6. Adjust the Heimlich maneuver for pregnant or overweight women. Put your hands higher than described above. Your hands should be just below the sternum, just above the point where the last ribs meet. Push hard on the chest as described above. However, you cannot give the same upward thrusts. Repeat until the person can breathe again or until he / she becomes unconscious.
7. Make sure the item is completely out. When the trachea is clear again, there may still be pieces of the object that the person was stitched into. If possible, ask if the victim can spit everything out, and if he / she can breathe without difficulty.
   • See if you can see if there is anything blocking the windpipe. If there is anything left, try to get it out of the victim's mouth with your finger. Only do this if you see the object, otherwise you can push it further in.
8. Check if breathing has returned to normal. When the object is out, most people will be able to breathe normally again. If there is still no normal breathing, or if the person has become unconscious, move on to the next step.
9. Provide help if someone is unconscious. If the suffocated person loses consciousness, put him / her on their back on the floor. If possible, try to clear the trachea. If you like the object, try to take it out of the throat with your finger. Do not put your finger down your throat if you cannot see the object. Be careful not to push the object deeper into the throat.
   • If the object remains stuck and the person remains unconscious, see if the victim is still breathing. Place your cheek close to the victim's mouth. Watch for 10 seconds for the chest to rise and fall, listen for a breath, and see if you can feel the breath against your cheek.
   • If the person is not breathing, start CPR. CPR may also dislodge the object from the trachea.
   • Have someone call 911, or do it yourself if you are alone and then resume helping the victim. Alternate CPR with checking the trachea, and try to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until the ambulance arrives. Give 2 breaths after every 30 chest compressions. Remember to watch your mouth while performing CPR.
   • You may find it difficult to blow air into the lungs as long as the trachea is blocked.
10. Call your doctor. If the victim continues to cough, has difficulty breathing, or feels like something is still stuck in the throat after choking, call the doctor immediately.
    • The abdominal thrusts can cause internal injuries and bruises. If you have used this technique or have resuscitated someone, they should always be examined by a doctor afterwards.

Method 2 of 2: Helping yourself

1. Call 112. If you are alone and choking, call 911 immediately. Even if you cannot speak, an ambulance will be sent to see what is wrong.
2. Perform the Heimlich hold on yourself. You may not be able to do this as forcefully as someone else, but you can still try to dislodge the item.
   • Make a fist. Place it on your stomach, just above your belly button.
   • Hold that fist with your other hand.
   • Hang over a chair, table, counter or other sturdy object.
   • Push your fist in and up as described above.
   • Keep repeating this until the object comes loose, or until the ambulance arrives.
   • Make sure the object is completely out. Try to spit out the object and any leftovers.
3. Call your doctor. If you continue to cough, have trouble breathing, or feel like something is still stuck in your throat, see your doctor immediately.
   • Abdominal thrusts can seriously injure you. If you have performed this method on yourself, then have it examined by your doctor.