Tips and recommendations 

How do you respond to choking?

Leia Doyle

How do you respond to choking?

Severe choking: back blows and abdominal thrusts

  1. Stand behind them and slightly to one side. Support their chest with 1 hand.
  2. Give up to 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
  3. Check if the blockage has cleared.
  4. If not, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts.

Do you ask someone if they are choking?

First Aid Can Save Lives If you see someone choking, first ask them if they’re okay and are able to breathe. Choking is so hazardous because brain damage can happen in as little as four to six minutes if someone doesn’t receive oxygen. The Heimlich and CPR can save lives.

What is the first thing you ask if you think someone is choking?

If you think someone is choking, ask them ‘Are you choking?’ If they can breathe, speak or cough then they might be able to clear their own throat. If they cannot breathe, cough, or make any noise, then they need your help straight away. Cough it out.

What question do you ask a choking victim?

Common Ways to Respond to the Choking Victim. Encountering a choking person is an emergency. Ask, “are you choking?” If the person responds vocally, encourage continued coughing.

Who has died from choking on vomit?

These celebrities who died by choking on their own vomit include Jimi Hendrix, Bon Scott, Tommy Dorsey, Tammy Homolka, and several others.

What to do if someone goes unconscious from choking?

If the person becomes unconscious, perform standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with chest compressions and rescue breaths. To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on yourself: First, if you’re alone and choking, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

How do you soothe a throat after choking?

Home care

  1. If swallowing is painful, have liquids and soft foods until it gets better.
  2. Gargling with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of table salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water) may help soothe a sore throat.
  3. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines such as acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen can help ease throat pain.

What to do if someone is choking on puke?

The bottom line: If a person is intoxicated enough that they are passed out and you are concerned about them choking on their own vomit, then you should not leave them alone and immediately call 911 to have them medically assessed.