Quick Answer
If someone is choking, stay calm and act fast. First, see if they can cough or breathe. Encourage coughing if they can. If the airway is blocked, give 5 firm back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is cleared or help arrives. Call emergency services if it doesn’t improve or the person loses consciousness. These simple first aid steps can save a life.
Many people worry about what to do if someone chokes, especially without training. Knowing how to respond makes you confident and ready to help at home, work, or public places in South Africa. These beginner-friendly steps focus on practical actions you can take immediately.
What Happens When Someone Is Choking?
Choking happens when an object blocks the airway, stopping air from reaching the lungs. This can happen quickly when eating or playing and needs fast action. Without help, choking can cause unconsciousness or death within minutes.
Recognising choking early is key. Signs include difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, coughing weakly, clutching the throat, or not being able to talk or breathe. If the person can speak or cough, encourage them to keep coughing to try to clear the blockage themselves.
Step-by-Step First Aid for Choking
Follow these steps safely and confidently to help someone who can’t clear their airway:
- Check if they can breathe or cough: If yes, let them cough it out; don’t interrupt.
- Give Back Blows: Stand behind the person, lean them slightly forward, and give 5 firm blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
- Give Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Manoeuvre): Make a fist above their belly button, grab your fist with the other hand, and give quick inward and upward thrusts 5 times.
- Repeat: Alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object clears, the person can breathe properly, or they become unconscious.
- Call for Help: If they don’t improve quickly, call emergency services immediately.
If the person becomes unconscious, place them on their back, clear the airway if you can see the object, and begin CPR if trained.
Special First Aid for Infants and Pregnant or Obese People
Infants under 1 year require gentler techniques:
- Hold the baby face down on your forearm, supporting the head.
- Give 5 gentle back blows between the shoulder blades.
- If needed, turn them face up and give 5 chest thrusts using two fingers in the middle of the chest.
- Never do abdominal thrusts on an infant.
For pregnant or obese adults, avoid abdominal thrusts. Instead, give chest thrusts by placing your hands on the centre of the chest and pushing inward firmly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Helping Someone Who Is Choking
- Don’t slap the person’s back if they are coughing well—it might make things worse.
- Avoid blindly putting fingers in their mouth; this can push the object deeper.
- Never delay calling emergency services if the object doesn’t come out quickly.
- Be careful when doing abdominal thrusts to avoid injury.
Knowing what NOT to do is just as important as knowing the right steps to take.
If you want to learn these skills in detail and get a certificate, consider joining EduCourse’s Free First Aid Certificate Course online. It’s designed for beginners and covers choking, CPR, and other essential first aid skills you may need.
