HealthInfo Canterbury

Choking

Rāoa

Choking happens when something – often food – becomes stuck in a person's windpipe, blocking it. This makes it difficult or impossible to breathe.

How to tell if someone is choking

Someone who is choking will have difficulty breathing and talking. If their airway is partially blocked, their breathing may be noisy, and it may make them cough. They may be very anxious and frightened.

If their airway is totally blocked, they'll be unable to cough, breathe or speak. They may be using hand signals to point to their throat. Their skin may be pale or turning blue. They'll be very distressed.

Helping someone who is choking

• For a partial blockage
• Ask the person if they're choking.
• Encourage them to cough to expel the item causing the blockage.

  NEVER use back blows on someone who can cough or breathe.

• Reassure them.
• If you can see what's causing the blockage, remove it using your thumb and two fingers.
• Don't put your fingers into their mouth unless you can see the object and grab it. If you can't remove it safely you may end up pushing it further down.
• Stay with them until they've fully recovered.

If coughing or removing the object doesn't work

• Call 111 for an ambulance.
• If the person is conscious, give them up to five back blows between their shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. See the first image in the diagram.
• If a baby is choking, place them face down on your lap. Make sure their head is supported. See the third image in the diagram.
• Check between each blow to see if you've dislodged the object.

If back blows don't work

• Give an adult or child five separate chest thrusts. See the instructions below and the second image in the diagram.
• Give a baby chest thrusts using your fingers. See the instructions below and the fourth image in the diagram.

Alternate between back blows and chest thrusts until the object has come out or an ambulance has arrived.

If the person stops breathing, start CPR for children and adults or for babies.

How to do chest thrusts

On an adult or child

Stand behind the person, wrapping your arm around their chest. Make a fist with one hand with your thumb on the outside.

Place your fist with the thumb side against the middle of their breastbone.

Grasp your fist with your other hand and give five separate quick sharp inwards and upwards thrusts.

On a baby

Lay the baby face up on your forearm or on your lap. Take care to support the head and jaw with your hands. Place your middle and index fingers at the centre of their chest bone (just below the nipple line). Give five separate quick sharp inward and upwards thrusts.

  HealthInfo recommends the following videos

• St John – How to save a choking baby

  This video shows you what to do if a baby is choking.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• St John – Choking

  Information about what can cause choking and how to help someone who is choking.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.

Sources

Page reference: 284743

Review key: HIFAD-141030