Tell an effective cough apart from a complete blockage, and act in order instead of jumping straight to techniques.
While he's coughing, don't interfere
One sign decides everything
Someone is choking if they suddenly stop talking or coughing — most often while eating. The first question is simple: “Are you choking?”
Then one sign decides everything: is the cough working? While the person is coughing loudly and forcefully, their best way to clear the airway is already working, and no technique can replace it. Your job isn't to slap their back: stay close, tell them to keep coughing, and watch for changes.
A complete airway blockage looks different: the person can't say a word, can't cough, can't breathe in, and often clutches their throat. The cough stops or goes silent.
In that case: up to five back blows between the shoulder blades; if that fails, up to five abdominal thrusts; then alternate five and five until the object comes out or the person becomes unresponsive. Call for help without waiting. No blind finger sweeps. If they stop responding, start CPR.
Example: at dinner a guest starts coughing — loudly, forcefully, getting out “I'm choking” between coughing fits. The right move is to keep your hands off. A few seconds later the cough fades and goes silent — now give five back blows.
One last thing: anyone who has had abdominal thrusts or chest compressions must be seen by a medical professional, even if “it's over now.” The exact technique is learned hands-on, in a class — a screen can't teach it.
Lesson notes
One sign decides everything
Someone is choking if they suddenly stop talking or coughing — most often while eating. The first question is simple: “Are you choking?”
Then one sign decides everything: is the cough working? While the person is coughing loudly and forcefully, their best way to clear the airway is already working, and no technique can replace it. Your job isn't to slap their back: stay close, tell them to keep coughing, and watch for changes.
A complete airway blockage looks different: the person can't say a word, can't cough, can't breathe in, and often clutches their throat. The cough stops or goes silent.
In that case: up to five back blows between the shoulder blades; if that fails, up to five abdominal thrusts; then alternate five and five until the object comes out or the person becomes unresponsive. Call for help without waiting. No blind finger sweeps. If they stop responding, start CPR.
Example: at dinner a guest starts coughing — loudly, forcefully, getting out “I'm choking” between coughing fits. The right move is to keep your hands off. A few seconds later the cough fades and goes silent — now give five back blows.
One last thing: anyone who has had abdominal thrusts or chest compressions must be seen by a medical professional, even if “it's over now.” The exact technique is learned hands-on, in a class — a screen can't teach it.