Choking occurs when an object, food, or liquid obstructs the airway, preventing normal breathing. ⚠️ It can be a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention. This guide covers recognition, first aid, and prevention strategies for both adults and children.

👀 Recognizing Choking

Signs in Adults and Children:
- Inability to speak or cry out.
- Difficulty or noisy breathing.
- Weak, ineffective coughing or no cough.
- Clutching the throat (universal choking sign).
- Cyanosis (bluish skin) from hypoxia.
- Loss of consciousness if unresolved.

🧍 First Aid for Choking in Adults

Encourage Coughing: If able to cough forcefully, encourage until object expelled.
Heimlich Maneuver (Abdominal Thrusts):
- Stand behind, wrap arms around waist.
- Fist just above navel, grasp with other hand.
- Perform quick upward thrusts.
- Repeat until object expelled or collapse occurs.
Call Emergency Services 📞 if unable to breathe/speak or loss of consciousness.
CPR ❤️: If unconscious and not breathing, begin CPR until help arrives.

🧒 First Aid for Choking in Children (>1 year)

Encourage coughing if effective.
Heimlich Maneuver: Kneel behind small child, stand for larger. Apply thrusts as with adults.
Call emergency services if airway not cleared.
Start CPR if unconscious.

👶 First Aid for Choking in Infants (<1 year)

Back Blows & Chest Thrusts:
- Hold infant face down on forearm, head supported.
- Give up to 5 back blows between shoulder blades.
- If not effective → turn face up, give 5 chest thrusts (two fingers, below nipple line).
- Repeat cycles until object expelled or infant collapses.
Call emergency services immediately if unresolved.
Begin CPR if unconscious and not breathing.

🛡️ Prevention of Choking

Adults:
- Chew thoroughly, eat slowly.
- Avoid talking/laughing while eating.
- No eating while walking, running, or driving.
- Limit alcohol during meals.
Children:
- Supervise meals, cut food into small pieces.
- Avoid nuts, popcorn, hard sweets in toddlers.
- Teach safe chewing and no talking with food in mouth.
- Keep small objects and toys out of reach.

📌 Summary

Choking is a life-threatening emergency. ✅ Recognize the signs quickly. ✅ Apply the right first aid (adult, child, or infant). ✅ Call emergency services early. ✅ Prevent by safe eating practices and child supervision.

👶 Choking in Children

🧍 Choking in Adults

The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms.

Resuscitation - Choking Algorithm