Choking happens when food or another object blocks the airway, making it hard or impossible to breathe. A person may show the universal choking sign by holding their hands at their throat. Knowing the signs and the first steps to get help can save time and keep everyone calmer.
Students should learn what to notice, when to call for help, and how to alert a trusted adult right away.
If someone can cough, speak, or breathe, the airway is only partly blocked, and coughing may clear it. If the person cannot speak, cough, cry, or breathe, it is a severe choking emergency and emergency help is needed immediately. A trained adult may use abdominal thrusts for a conscious adult or child over 1 year old, while infants need different care.
If the person becomes unresponsive, call emergency services and begin CPR only if trained to do so.
Key Facts
- Universal choking sign = hands held at the throat.
- Mild choking signs include coughing, speaking, or making sounds.
- Severe choking signs include inability to speak, cough, cry, or breathe.
- Call emergency services right away for severe choking, such as 911 in the United States.
- Do not do a blind finger sweep because it can push the object deeper.
- For prevention, sit while eating, chew well, and avoid talking or laughing with food in your mouth.
Vocabulary
- Airway
- The airway is the path air travels through the mouth, throat, and windpipe to reach the lungs.
- Choking
- Choking is when food or an object blocks the airway and makes breathing difficult or impossible.
- Universal choking sign
- The universal choking sign is holding both hands at the throat to show that a person may be choking.
- Abdominal thrusts
- Abdominal thrusts are first aid pushes given above the navel by a trained helper to help clear a blocked airway in a conscious adult or child over 1 year old.
- Emergency services
- Emergency services are trained responders who can be called quickly during a serious health emergency.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Slapping the back of someone who is coughing strongly is a mistake because coughing means some air is moving and the person may clear the blockage on their own.
- Putting fingers into the mouth to search for an object is a mistake because a blind finger sweep can push the object farther into the airway.
- Waiting to see if severe choking gets better is a mistake because a person who cannot breathe, speak, or cough needs emergency help right away.
- Using abdominal thrusts on an infant is a mistake because babies under 1 year old need special choking first aid with back blows and chest thrusts from a trained person.
Practice Questions
- 1 A student sees a classmate holding both hands at their throat and unable to speak. List the first 3 actions the student should take in order.
- 2 During lunch, a student talks while eating and coughs for 12 seconds but can still speak. Is this mild or severe choking, and what should nearby students do?
- 3 Explain why a person who can cough loudly is treated differently from a person who cannot cough, speak, or breathe.