A piece of meat goes wrong, a bite is swallowed too quickly, and suddenly you cannot breathe. If someone is nearby, they may be able to help. But what happens when you are completely alone and unable to speak, cough, or call for assistance?
Knowing what to do during a choking emergency can be lifesaving. However, it is important to rely on established first-aid guidance rather than unverified techniques circulating online.
Recognizing Severe Choking
A choking person may be unable to:
Speak or make sounds
Breathe normally
Cough effectively
Cry or make noise
Get enough air
They may grab their throat, become increasingly distressed, or begin losing consciousness.
If you can still cough forcefully or speak, the airway may not be completely blocked. In that situation, keep coughing and do not try to forcefully perform abdominal thrusts on yourself.
If You Are Choking and Alone
If you are unable to breathe, cough, or speak, call your local emergency service immediately if you can. Put the phone on speaker so you can continue trying to help yourself.
A commonly taught self-rescue technique involves using a firm surface to perform abdominal thrusts:
Make a fist and place it just above your belly button.
Grasp your fist with your other hand.
Bend over a firm, horizontal surface such as the edge of a countertop or sturdy chair.
Drive your upper abdomen forcefully against the edge.
Repeat until the object is expelled or you become unable to continue.
Do not use a sharp corner or anything that could cause serious injury.
If possible, make noise or otherwise attract attention from neighbors or people nearby.
Do Not Put Your Fingers Down Your Throat
One important mistake to avoid is blindly sweeping your fingers around inside your mouth.
If you can clearly see an object and can safely remove it, you may do so. But blindly reaching into the throat can push the obstruction farther down.
What If Someone Else Is Choking?
First determine whether the person can cough, speak, or breathe.
If They Can Cough or Speak
Encourage them to keep coughing.
Do not immediately perform abdominal thrusts if they are coughing effectively. A strong cough may be enough to clear the obstruction.
If They Cannot Breathe, Speak, or Cough
This is a severe airway obstruction and requires immediate action.
For an adult or child over one year old:
Give up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades.
Check the mouth and remove an object only if you can clearly see it.
If the obstruction remains, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts.
Continue alternating back blows and abdominal thrusts.
Have someone call emergency services as soon as possible.
If the person becomes unconscious, begin CPR and follow the instructions of the emergency dispatcher.
What About Babies?
Infants require a different technique.
If a baby cannot breathe, cry, or cough:
Place the baby face-down along your forearm, supporting the head and neck.
Keep the baby's head lower than the body.
Give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades.
If the obstruction remains, turn the baby face-up while continuing to support the head.
Give up to 5 chest thrusts using two fingers on the breastbone.
Alternate back blows and chest thrusts until the obstruction is removed or help arrives.
Never perform abdominal thrusts on an infant.
Why Acting Quickly Matters
A completely blocked airway can prevent oxygen from reaching the brain and other organs. A person can lose consciousness rapidly, which is why severe choking should always be treated as an emergency.
Even if the object is successfully removed, medical evaluation may sometimes be necessary, particularly if the person continues to have breathing difficulties, chest pain, persistent coughing, or other symptoms.
Be Careful With Viral “Life-Saving” Techniques
Videos on social media sometimes promote unusual methods for treating choking, including techniques involving deliberately falling onto furniture or the floor.
Such methods may carry a risk of injury and should not replace established first-aid procedures. A technique demonstrated successfully in a video does not automatically mean it is safe or effective for everyone.
The safest approach is to know recognized choking first aid, keep emergency numbers accessible, and consider taking an accredited first-aid or CPR course.
The Most Important Things to Remember
If you are choking:
If you can cough forcefully, keep coughing.
If you cannot breathe, speak, or cough, treat it as a severe emergency.
Call emergency services immediately when possible.
If alone, use an appropriate self-abdominal-thrust technique against a firm surface.
Never blindly put your fingers into your throat.
For infants, use back blows and chest thrusts—not abdominal thrusts.
Seek medical attention if symptoms continue after the obstruction is removed.
A choking emergency can happen without warning. Knowing the correct response before it happens can make the difference between panic and effective action.
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