How to Respond to a Choking Emergency

Choking is a serious emergency that can happen to anyone, but children—especially those under age four—are at a higher risk. However, even older children and adults can choke when eating. Knowing how to respond in these situations is crucial and may result in saving a life.

When to Take Action

If your child is struggling to breathe but can still talk or has a strong cough, do not interfere. A child’s natural cough is more effective than any intervention you can provide. 

If your child is unable to breathe, appears pale, or has a weak cough, take immediate action.

Performing Care for an Adult or Child (Non-infant)

1. Position self to the side and slightly behind the choking person.
2. For a small child, you may need to kneel behind them rather than stand.
3. Give 5 back blows.
4. Use the heel of the hand to strike between the shoulder blades.
5. If no improvement, have the person stand up straight.
6. Move behind the person; bend your knees slightly for balance and support.
7. Give 5 abdominal thrusts. Pull inward and upward each time.
8. Continue giving 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts.
9. Continue until the person can cough, cry or speak or becomes unresponsive.

If the person becomes unresponsive, lower them to a firm, flat surface and begin CPR (starting with compressions) according to your level of training.

For more information and further info please see the Red Cross resources here. 

CPR for a Child Without a Pulse

If a child loses consciousness and has no pulse, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is required:

1. Position the child on a flat surface.
2. Place the heel of your hand on the lower half of the breastbone.
3. Administer chest compressions in groups of five over a four-second period.
4. Give a gentle mouth-to-mouth breath after each set of compressions.
5. Repeat this cycle continuously until help arrives.

Prevention and Training

Choking and performing life-saving responses can be scary. That’s why preventing choking is always the best course of action. Ensure young children are supervised while eating, and avoid giving them high-risk foods or cut food into smaller pieces. Likewise, ensure toys are not potential choking hazards for smaller children.

While this guide provides essential information, it is not a substitute for formal first-aid training. Every parent should complete a certified first-aid and CPR course through organizations like the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Knowing how to act in an emergency can make the difference between life and death. A great local resource for families is the Pulse CPR School.

For questions or any other concerns, Augusta Pediatrics can be reached at (706) 868-0389. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Informational techniques and facts presented here were sourced from healthychildren.org. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.