Choking Response: Adult, Child, and Infant

Ask: 'Are you choking?' A person with a partial blockage can cough, speak, or breathe — encourage them to cough forcefully and do not intervene yet. A person with a complete blockage cannot speak, cannot breathe, cannot cough effectively, may clutch their throat (universal choking sign), and will go pale then blue. This requires immediate action.

Stand to the side and slightly behind. Support their chest with one hand, lean them forward so the object can exit the mouth. Deliver 5 firm blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check the mouth after each blow — if an object is visible, remove it.

Stand behind the person. Make a fist with one hand and place it thumb-side against the abdomen, just above the navel and well below the breastbone. Grasp your fist with the other hand. Pull sharply inward and upward 5 times. Each thrust should be a distinct, forceful movement.

Do not perform abdominal thrusts on pregnant women or infants. Use chest thrusts instead.

Cycle: 5 back blows → 5 abdominal thrusts → check mouth → repeat. If the object clears, the person will be able to breathe and cough. If they lose consciousness, lower them carefully to the ground and begin CPR — chest compressions may dislodge the object.

Lay the infant face-down along your forearm, head lower than chest. Deliver 5 back blows with 2 fingers between the shoulder blades. Flip to face-up on your forearm. Deliver 5 chest thrusts with 2 fingers on the breastbone, just below the nipple line. Alternate until clear. Never perform abdominal thrusts on an infant.

Make a fist and deliver abdominal thrusts to yourself. If that fails: find a hard chair back, countertop edge, or railing. Lean forward and drive your upper abdomen against the edge with your full bodyweight. Repeat until the object clears or you lose consciousness.