First Aid for Choking Victims

First Aid for Choking Victims of All Ages

Victoria Vetter, MD, FAAP, FACC: Hello, my name is Dr. Victoria Vetter and I'm a pediatric cardiologist and the Director of Youth Heart Watch at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This video will demonstrate what to do if choking occurs in an adult, child or infant. Choking is caused when something blocks a person's airway and they are unable to breathe.

If someone is choking, they will not be able to talk and might give you the universal sign for choking with their hands around their neck. If you think someone is choking, ask them.

Man: Dave, are you okay? Are you choking? Can you breathe?

Victoria Vetter, MD, FAAP, FACC: If they are unable to respond or cough, they need your help immediately. Position yourself behind the victim and wrap your arms around them.

Make a fist with one hand and place it just above the belly button. Place your other hand over the top of your fist. Then move your hands in a forceful motion, pushing in and up towards the chest in an attempt to force the item out of the airway. Continue these abdominal thrusts until the item is removed or dislodged, the victim can breathe,

Man: Can you breathe now? Are you okay?

Victoria Vetter, MD, FAAP, FACC: Or they become unconscious. If the victim is large or pregnant, and you cannot wrap your arms around their waist, wrap your arms around their chest to perform five chest thrusts. For a child, you may need to kneel behind them to be at the correct height to fit your arms around their chest.

If the victim loses consciousness, move them to the floor and begin CPR.

The steps for helping a choking infant are different. A choking infant cannot cry or cough and their face may turn blue quickly. You will need to act immediately, by kneeling or sitting down in a chair, and placing the baby face down on your forearm, supporting their head and neck with your hand. Rest your arm holding the baby on your thigh for support.

Use the heel of your hand to deliver five strong blows to the center of the baby's back between the shoulder blades. If the object does not dislodge after five blows, you will need to turn the baby over to perform chest compressions. Place a baby face up on your free forearm, supporting their neck with your hand.

Keeping the baby's head lower than their body, take your free index and middle fingers to perform five compressions in the center of the chest just below the nipple line to dislodge the object that is obstructing the airway. Continue a cycle of five back blows and five chest compressions until the object comes out and the baby can breathe or until they lose consciousness and you need to start CPR.

If the baby loses consciousness, move them to the floor, call 911 and begin CPR. Give 30 chest compressions and then check the airway for the object. If you can see the object and are able to remove it, do so. If you do not see the object, or if it's not easily able to be removed, do not attempt to remove it as you can push the object further into the airway. Instead, give two breaths and then start chest compressions again.

Continue the cycle of chest compressions, checking the airway and breaths until the object is removed, the baby is responsive and crying, or EMS arrives.

Let's review the steps for choking again, for adult or child. Stand behind the victim. Make a fist with one hand, and place it just above the belly button. Then cover the fist with your other hand. Move your hands in and upward, forcefully, until the object is dislodged.

If the victim becomes unconscious, move them to the floor and begin CPR. For a child, you may need to kneel behind them to be at the correct height to fit your arms around their chest.

For an infant. Recognize that a choking infant will turn blue and not be able to cough or breathe effectively. Start back blows for the infant and follow with chest thrust if needed. Use back blows or abdominal thrust -- Heimlich maneuver -- for a child or adult.

Perform CPR if consciousness is lost and a sudden cardiac arrest is occurring.