Choking First Aid: What to Do If Someone Is Choking

Learn what to do if someone is choking. Follow our step-by-step first aid guide for adults, children, and babies — and know when to call for help.

 

Introduction

Choking can happen suddenly and to anyone - whether it's during a family meal, at work, or when you're on your own. When someone's airway becomes blocked, every second counts. Knowing how to respond quickly and confidently could save a life. 

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the essential first aid steps for choking, including what to do for adults, children, and babies. You’ll also learn how to recognise the warning signs, when to call emergency services, and what to avoid in a choking emergency — and how first aid training with FRFA can help you stay calm and confident if it ever happens in real life.

 

How To Recognise When Someone Is Choking

Before you can help, it's important to be able to spot the signs of choking quickly. A person who's choking may not be able to speak, cough, or breathe properly, and their situation can become serious in a matter of moments. 

When it comes to choking, there are two main types: 

Mild Choking - If the airway is only partially blocked, the person will usually be able to:

• Breathe, cough, or make some sound
• Speak in between coughs
• Stay conscious

In this case, it's best to encourage them to keep coughing to try and clear the blockage themselves. Stay close by until their coughing subsides and the blockage is cleared, in case their condition worsens. 

Severe choking - If the airway is completely blocked, the person will usually:

• Struggle or be unable to speak or breathe
• Be unable to cough effectively, or at all
• Have red, then blue or grey lips or skin
• Clutch their throat - a universal sign of choking
• Possibly lose consciousness if the blockage isn't cleared.

Recognising these crucial signs means that you can act fast and start the right first aid steps immediately. 

 

What To Do If An Adult Is Choking

If someone is choking, and is unable to breathe, speak, or cough, it is vital to act fast. Follow these choking first aid steps to help clear the blockage and restore their normal breathing.

• Encourage them to cough - If the person can still breathe or make noise, it is possible that they might be able to clear the blockage themselves. Encourage them to keep coughing to try and clear the obstruction on their own. 
• Give up to 5 back blows - If coughing doesn't work, and the person is still choking, the next step is to perform back blows. This is when you stand behind them, slightly to one side, and with the heel of your hand, give 5 sharp hits between their shoulder blades. Support their chest with your other hand, and check between each blow to see if the obstruction has cleared. You will need to be quite forceful here, as the idea is the force creates a strong enough vibration and pressure in the airway to dislodge the blockage - so don't be afraid to hit with firm pressure!
• Give up to 5 abdominal thrusts - If the airway hasn't cleared after 5 back blows, move onto abdominal thrusts. Also known as the Heimlich Manoeuvre, abdominal thrusts are used to mimic a natural, forceful cough, for when the person choking isn't able to. To perform an abdominal trust, stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist. Form a fist with one hand, and place it just above their belly button. Grasp your fist with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards five times. Check if the blockage has cleared after each thrust.
• Alternate between back blows and abdominal thrusts - If the airway still isn't clear, continue alternating between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive. This is a good time to call 999, as a medical professional is required to take over. 
• Call 999 - If the person becomes unresponsive, or your attempts to clear the airways haven't worked, call 999. If the person becomes unresponsive, check for any signs of breathing, and begin CPR if required.

Tip: Even if the person seems fine afterwards, it is recommended they seek medical attention, as abdominal thrusts can sometimes cause internal injury. 

 

What To Do If A Child Or Baby Is Choking?

Children and babies can choke easily, especially when exploring new foods or putting small objects in their mouths. We know how scary the thought of your child choking is, but the most important thing to remember is to stay calm and act confidently should the situation arise. The steps for choking first aid are similar for children and babies, but gentler techniques are required depending on their age. 

If a child over the age of 1 is choking:

• Encourage them to cough - If the child can still breathe or make sounds, encourage them to keep coughing to clear the blockage. Stay with them and monitor their breathing.
• Give up to 5 back blows - If the child cannot clear the blockage on their own, perform back blows. Stand or kneel behind the child and support their chest with one hand. Lean them slightly forward and use the heel of your hand to give up to five firm back blows between the shoulder blades. 
• Give up to 5 abdominal thrusts - Stand or kneel behind the child and wrap your arms round their waist. Make a fist and place it just above their belly button, pull sharply inwards, checking if the object comes out in between each. 
• Call 999 if not cleared - If the airway remains blocked after these steps, call 999. Continue to alternate between back blows and abdominal thrusts until help arrives.

Tip: never perform abdominal trusts on an infant under the age of 1. 

If a baby under the age of 1 years old is choking:

• Check for coughing or crying - If the baby can still cry or cough, encourage them to keep coughing. If they're silent, unable to breathe, or turning blue, start first aid immediately.
• Give up to 5 back blows - The way we perform back blows on a baby is different than children and adults. First, lay the baby face down along your forearm or knee, supporting their head and neck, ensuring their head is lower than their body. Using the heel of your hand, give 5 gentle but firm back blows between the shoulder blades.
• Give up to 5 chest thrusts - Instead of abdominal thrusts, turn the baby onto their back, supporting their head. Place two fingers in the middle of their chest, just below the nipple line. Push sharply downwards up to 5 times, checking if the airway has cleared between each.
• Call 999 - If the object hasn't dislodged, call 999 immediately and continue alternating between back blows and chest thrusts until help arrives or the baby starts breathing normally. 

Tip: Even if your child seems fine afterwards, its recommended you get them checked by a medical professional to ensure there's no injury or swelling in the airway. 

 

What To Do If You're Choking On Your Own

Choking when you’re alone can feel terrifying — but there are ways to help yourself if no one is nearby. Staying calm and acting quickly is key.

• Try to cough forcefully - If you can still breathe or make a sound, keep coughing hard to try and dislodge the object. This is often enough to clear a mild blockage.
• Get help - If you can't breathe or cough, get help anyway you can. This might mean running outside to a neighbour or someone on the street. Clutching your throat is a universal sign of choking, and this should signal you need help. Take your phone with you if nearby to call 999 if nobody is around to help.
• Call 999 - If you're still choking and struggling to breathe, call 999. Make any kind of noise you can to signal to the operator that it is a real call, and they'll be able to dispatch someone to you. Continue to try to cough to clear the airway.

Although not typically recommended, you can attempt to perform abdominal thrusts on yourself to dislodge the item. Lean forward on a firm object, such as the back of a chair or a kitchen counter, and ball your fist. Forcefully push your fist inwards and upwards. Even if you manage to clear the blockage yourself, it’s important to seek medical attention. The force used to clear the airway can sometimes cause bruising or internal injury.

 

What To NOT Do When Someone Is Choking

In an emergency, it’s natural to panic — but some actions can make choking worse or cause harm. Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing the right steps to take.

• Don't put your fingers down someone's throat - Never blindly reach into a person's mouth. You could possibly push the object further down their throat and make the blockage worse. Only remove the object if you can clearly see it and easily grasp it. 
• Don't hit their back when they're upright and coughing - If someone can still cough, breathe, or speak, don't slap their back. It could move the object and cause a complete blockage. Encourage them to keep coughing themselves instead.
• Don't give them food or water - Offering a drink or food might feel like the right thing to do - to 'flush it out' - but it can actually make choking worse by adding to the obstruction. Wait until the airway is completely clear. 
• Don't ignore it afterwards - Even if the person seems fine once they've coughed up the object, it is important that they're checked out by a medical professional. Choking can cause bruising or internal damage that isn't visible straight away.

 

How To Prevent Choking

While choking can happen suddenly, many incidents can be avoided with a few simple precautions. Knowing how to reduce the risk is just as valuable as learning what to do when it happens.

For adults: 

• Avoid talking or laughing during chewing, as it's easy to lose focus and inhale food accidentally.
• Cut food into manageable pieces, especially tougher items like meat or crusty bread.
• Avoid alcohol or distractions like the TV at meal times, as they can slow your reaction time.
• Chew food thoroughout and take your time when you're eating.

For children:

• Supervise young children while eating and ensure they’re sitting upright.
• Cut food into small, soft pieces. Round foods like grapes, cherry tomatoes, and sausages should be sliced up.
• Keep small objects out of reach, such as coins, buttons, and toys with detachable parts.
• Avoid hard sweets or chewing gum for toddlers and young children.

For babies:

• Introduce solid foods gradually, following age appropriate guidance.
• Avoid giving whole nuts or large chunks of food.
• Never leave a baby alone with food, always stay close when feeding.

 

Learn First Aid with FRFA

Choking is one of the most common first aid emergencies, and knowing what to do can genuinely save a life. While it's easy to panic in the moment, having the right training gives you the confidence to act quickly and calmly. At First Response First Aid, we offer a wide range of accredited first aid courses designed to equip you with the skills you need to handle real life emergencies. From Emergency First Aid At Work to Paediatric First Aid and Mental Health First Aid, our experienced trainers make learning practical, engaging and easy to remember. 

Whether you’re looking to meet workplace requirements or simply want to be prepared to help others, we’ll help you gain the confidence to respond when it matters most. Ready to learn life-saving skills? Find out more about our First Aid Training Courses and book your place today.

 

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