Choking: Obstructed Airway of a Conscious Adult

Watch out for signs of choking

1. Ask the victim if he is choking.

2. He would probably be displaying the signs of choking – clasping the neck with the thumb and index fingers.

3. If he is able to speak, breathe or cough, do not interfere with his attempts to expel the foreign object. Otherwise, perform the abdominal thrust until the foreign object is expelled.

Wrap arms around victim’s waist to perform abdominal thrust

4. How to perform the Abdominal Thrust

   • Stand behind the victim and wrap your arms around the waist.

   • Grasp one fist with your other hand and place thumb side of your fist in the midline slightly above the navel.

   • Press your fist into the victim’s abdomen with quick inward and upward thrusts. Each abdominal thrust should be delivered decisively, with the intention of relieving the obstruction.

   

Wrap arms under pregnant or obese victim’s chest and perform chest thrust

5. If the victim is in late pregnancy or is obese, perform the Chest Thrus.

6. How to perform the Chest Thrust

   • Stand behind the victim and place your arms under the victim's armpits encircling the chest.

   • Grasp one fist with your other hand and place thumb side of your fist in the middle of the victim's breastbone.

   • Press with quick backward thrusts.

7. Should the victim become unconscious, perform steps for clearing the Obstructed Airway of an Unconscious Adult.