If a person is choking, quickly deliver 4 or 5 blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. If they are Still Choking, and the person is not pregnant or obese, begin abdominal thrusts:
- Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
- Place your clenched fist just above the person’s navel. Grab your fist with your other hand, and quickly pull inward and upward.
- Continue alternate cycles of 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is coughed up or the person starts to breathe or cough.
- Do not attempt to take the object out of the person’s mouth unless you can see it. Quickly do a finger sweep only if you can see the object in the person’s mouth.
If the person is obese or pregnant, begin “high” abdominal thrusts:
- Stand behind the person, wrap your arms them, and position your hands at the base of the breast bone.
- Quickly pull inward and upward.
- Repeat until the object is dislodged.
If the obstruction comes out, but the person is not breathing or if the person becomes unconscious: Give CPR, if Necessary
- For a child, press CPRK. For an adult, press CPRA.
Sources:
- The Police Notebook: 1st-Aid for Choking http://www.ou.edu/oupd/choke.htm
- Mayo Clinic: Choking First Aid http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-choking/FA00025
- WebMD: First Aid and Emergencies, Choking http://firstaid.webmd.com/choking-treatment
