Choking
Adult or child can't breathe, cough, or speak.
🚨 Call an ambulance immediately, then follow the steps below.
Step-by-step
- 1
Ask: can they cough?
If they can still cough, speak, or breathe — encourage them to keep coughing. Don't hit them on the back. The body is trying to clear it on its own.
- 2
Call for help
If they cannot cough, speak, or breathe, shout for someone to call emergency services immediately. Stay with the person.
- 3
Five back blows
Lean them forward (chest pointing down). With the heel of your hand, give up to 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades. Check after each one — stop if the object comes out.
- 4
Five abdominal thrusts
Stand behind them. Make a fist just above their belly button. Grab your fist with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Repeat up to 5 times.
- 5
Alternate until it clears
Keep alternating 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts. If they fall unconscious, lower them gently to the floor and start CPR (next guide).
🛑 Do NOT
- Do NOT do abdominal thrusts on a baby under 1 year — use back blows and chest thrusts only.
- Do NOT slap them on the back if they can still cough or speak.
- Do NOT stick fingers in their mouth blindly — you might push the object deeper.
- Do NOT leave them alone, even if it seems to be clearing.
📞 Call an ambulance if…
- They cannot cough, speak, or breathe.
- They lose consciousness at any point.
- The object cleared but they're still struggling to breathe afterwards.
- It's a baby under 1 year.
This guide is educational content — not medical advice. Always call emergency services first. Sources: Red Cross, American Heart Association, NHS England.