If a person is choking on something stuck in their throat, they may need your help.
If their throat is partly blocked, they may be able to get rid of it by coughing. If they can’t cough or breathe, their throat is totally blocked, and they will need help until an ambulance arrives.
Quick help
- Ask the person “Are you choking?” to find out if they can breathe.
- If they can’t breathe at all, call 111 for an ambulance. Tell the call handler the person is choking and follow their instructions.
- If they are conscious and can’t breathe at all, hit them 1 - 5 times very hard on the back, and start chest thrusts.
- If they can breathe, encourage them to cough, but do not hit them on the back.
- If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR.
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What to look for
If the person has a partially blocked airway and can breathe
- Hard to breathe: The person may be struggling for air and their breathing is noisy.
- Coughing: The person is coughing or making a loud croaking or rasping sound, like a crow.
- Anxiety: They are very upset, nervous, or worried.
If the person has a totally blocked airway and can’t breathe
- The person can’t breathe at all: They can’t cough, breathe, or speak. There is no air coming from their mouth.
- Ribs and chest moving inwards: The spaces between their ribs and above their chest moving inwards as they try to breathe.
- Clutching at throat: They are holding their throat with one or both hands.
How you can help
If the person has a partially blocked airway and can breathe
- DO NOT hit them on the back – that may cause the object to move and block their airway completely.
- Reassure the person and keep them calm.
- Get them to cough to try and get rid of the item that’s stuck.
- Stay with them until they have recovered.
- If the item remains stuck in their throat, call 111 for an ambulance.
Adult or child with a totally blocked airway
- Call 111 for an ambulance.
- If the person is conscious, give up to 5 back blows.
- With the person leaning forward, either sitting or standing, hit the patient between their shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
- Do this 5 times, checking between each hit to see if the item has moved and the airway is unblocked.
- If the item is still stuck, give up to 5 chest thrusts.
- With the person either sitting or standing, get behind them and wrap both your arms around their chest.
- Place the thumb side of your fist in the middle of the person’s chest.
- Grab that fist with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards.
- Check between each thrust to see if the item has moved and the airway is unblocked.
- If the airway remains blocked continue with back blows and chest thrusts until the ambulance arrives.
Baby with a totally blocked airway
- Call 111 for an ambulance.
- If the baby is conscious, give up to 5 back blows.
- Place the baby face down on your lap with their head lower than their bottom. Make sure you support the baby’s head.
- Hit them firmly between their shoulder blades up to 5 times.
- Check after each hit to see if the item has moved and the airway is unblocked.
- If the item is still stuck, give up to 5 chest thrusts.
- Place the baby face upwards on a firm surface.
- Place two fingers in the middle of their chest just below the nipples.
- Push sharply downwards up to 5 times.
- Check between each thrust to see if the item has moved and the airway is unblocked.
- If the airway remains blocked continue with back blows and chest thrusts until the ambulance arrives.
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally
- Call 111 for an ambulance and tell the call handler that the person is choking.
- Check their mouth. Use your fingers to remove any visible obstruction.
- Start CPR and continue until the ambulance arrives.
| If you have a person in urgent need of medical attention, call 111 now. |