Choking
Choking victims cannot speak, breathe, or cough forcefully. Follow these steps for conscious choking victims:
- Ask the victim if he or she is choking. If the victim cannot speak and uses gestures to indicate choking, begin theHeimlich Maneuver, as outlined below.
- Get behind the victim and make a fist with one hand. Grasp your fist with the other hand and place your hands slightly above the victim's navel.
- Give quick, upward thrusts backwards until the object is expelled or the victim loses consciousness.
Important: For pregnant or obese victims, use a chest thrust. Place your fist on the sternum (breast bone), and thrust backwards repeatedly.
For unconscious choking victims
- Call 911.
- Place the victim on his or her back. Open the victim's airway by placing one hand on the forehead and one hand under the chin and tilting the head back. Check for any obstructions in the mouth or throat.
- Attempt mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing (see CPR instructions).
- If the airway remains blocked, place the heel of your hand slightly below the victim's ribs. Give six to ten abdominal thrusts.
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