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How to Administer First Aid to a Choking Person

First Aid skills are best learned from a certified First Aid instructor, but consulting this list will refresh your memory in case you ever need to administer First Aid to a choking person. The fact that you want to be up-to-date on your First Aid knowledge shows that you have what it takes to step up and assist someone in need of immediate help. Read on to learn how you can.

Things You'll Need

  • Chair or countertop
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Instructions

  1. Quickly assess the situation and take action.

    • 1

      Look for the obvious sign. The universal sign for choking is both hands wrapped around the throat area.

    • 2

      Look for any other signs. Many people become hysterical or scared and don't think to use the universal sign. Some of the other signs to look for are an inability to speak, trouble breathing or coughing, loud breathing, blue skin, lips or fingernails and unconsciousness.

    • 3

      Take action. If another person is present, have him call 911 right away, while you begin performing the Heimlich maneuver. If you are the only person present with the victim, administer the Heimlich maneuver first, and then call 911.

    Perform choking First Aid on a standing adult.

    • 4

      Stand behind the person. Make a ball with your fist. With the thumb facing in, place your fist right below the person's ribcage and above the belly button. Grab the fist with your other hand.

    • 5

      Dislodge the blockage. As if you were trying to lift the person, give a quick, inward and upward thrusting motion with your fist.

    • 6

      Repeat this motion until the person coughs up the blockage.

    Perform choking First Aid on a standing child.

    • 7

      Stand behind the child. Wrap your arms around his waist. Make a ball with your fist. With the thumb facing in, place your fist right below the child's rib cage and above the waist.

    • 8

      Dislodge the blockage. As if you were trying to lift the person, give a quick, inward and upward thrusting motion with your fist, being careful to keep your hands off the child's rib cage.

    • 9

      Repeat this motion until the child coughs up the blockage.

    Perform choking First Aid on an infant.

    • 10

      Get down on one knee on the floor. Rest your forearm on your leg and place the infant, face down, across your forearm. Use the heel of your hand to thump the infant five times on the center of her back.

    • 11

      Try the alternate mehtod. If this does not work, turn the infant over. Imagine a line between the two nipples. Using two fingers, place one finger tip below the imaginary line, give 4 quick thrusts going approximately one inch deep.

    • 12

      Still not working? If the infant still isn't breathing, repeat the back blows and chest thrusts again.

    Perform choking First Aid on yourself.

    • 13

      Place one first just above your belly button.

    • 14

      Grab that fist with your other hand and bend over a hard surface, such as a chair or countertop and thrust your fist inward and upward.

    • 15

      Repeat until the blockage is cleared.

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