Show
Choking happens when someone's airway suddenly gets blocked, either fully or partly, so they can't breathe or breathe properly. This information applies to adults. If you want advice for children, see How to stop a child from choking. If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe. They'll usually be able to clear the blockage themselves. To help with mild choking in an adult: If coughing doesn't work, start back blows. Where choking is severe, the person won't be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe. Without help, they'll eventually become unconscious. To carry out a back blow on an adult: Don't give abdominal thrusts to babies under 1 year old or pregnant women. To carry out an abdominal thrust:
If the person's airway is still blocked after trying back blows and abdominal thrusts, get help immediately:
If they lose consciousness and aren't breathing, you should begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with chest compressions. Find out how to do compression-only CPR and CPR with rescue breaths Get urgent medical help at an A&E, NHS walk-in centre or a GP if:
Abdominal thrusts can cause serious injuries. A health professional such as your GP or a doctor in A&E should always examine someone after they have received abdominal thrusts.
Page last reviewed: 14 September 2022
Air enters the lungs via the trachea (windpipe). Choking is caused when a foreign object, like a hard lump of food, a marble or false teeth goes into the trachea instead of the oesophagus (food pipe). If the object is at the entrance to the trachea (epiglottis), a good cough will more than likely push it out. If the object has made its way past the epiglottis, coughing may prevent the object from going further down the trachea. Sometimes, an inhaled object may cut off the airway completely. Choking may be a life-threatening medical emergency, because the brain can only survive a few minutes without oxygen.First aid can save the life of a choking person if applied correctly and immediately. Procedures are different for adults and children. Always call triple zero (000) in an emergency.The suggestions in this fact sheet are not a substitute for first aid training. Everyone should learn first aid skills. Symptoms of chokingA person with a partly blocked airway can still breathe, speak or cough. Symptoms include:
First aid for choking if the person is consciousTo begin with, reassure the person. Encourage them to breathe and cough. If coughing does not remove the blockage:
First aid for choking if the person is unconsciousIf the person becomes unconscious:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to treat chokingFirst aid CPR procedure includes:
Performing first aid on yourselfIf you are choking:
Children and chokingTreatment for a choking child or baby is slightly different than for an adult. The most important thing to remember is never to pat or slap your choking child on the back if they are managing to cough. Your actions may dislodge the object and allow it to be inhaled deeper into the airway.Note that in a young child, their struggle to breathe may not last long and the stopping of frantic activity may signal a serious or life-threatening situation, rather than a sign that they have dislodged the blockage. Look for other signs and symptoms such as the child’s responses, a pale face, or cold and clammy skin. These are signs that the child is in shock.When a child is choking:
What to do when the child is not breathingIf the child is not breathing:
Precautions to prevent children chokingSmall children are at risk from choking on food and small items such as buttons or beads. Parents can take many precautions to reduce the risk of their child choking. The molars (back teeth) are used for grinding and mashing foods. Children don't start getting their molars until they are somewhere between 12 and 18 months of age, and it may take a further two years or more until all the molars are through and the child is very good at chewing. This means they are vulnerable to choking on hard foods such as raw carrot, chunks of apple, lollies, popcorn or peanuts.Suggestions to prevent choking include:
First aid courses for treating childrenEmergency medical treatment for young children isn't always the same as for adults, which is why all parents should take a course in paediatric (child) first aid.Where to get help
Things to remember
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. |