GRID SURVIVOR

Choking

Someone who is choking may clutch their throat, be unable to speak, cough or breathe, or turn blue. If they can cough, they can usually clear it themselves. If they can't, act at once and get someone to call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America).

Mild choking: they can cough, speak or breathe

  1. Encourage them to keep coughing.
  2. Don't slap their back or put your fingers in their mouth.
  3. Stay with them until they're breathing comfortably.

Severe choking in adults and children over one

  1. Back blows. Stand to the side and slightly behind them. Support their chest with one hand and lean them well forward. Give up to 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check after each blow whether the blockage has cleared.
  2. Abdominal thrusts. If that hasn't worked, stand behind them and put your arms around their waist. Make a fist and place it between the belly button and the bottom of the breastbone. Grasp it with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Give up to 5 thrusts.
  3. Keep alternating 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object comes out or they become unresponsive.

Pregnant or very large people: use chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts. Place your fist in the centre of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone, and pull sharply backwards.

Babies under one

  1. Lay the baby face down along your forearm or thigh, head lower than the body, supporting the head and jaw with your hand.
  2. Give up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
  3. If that fails, turn the baby face up along your arm, head low. Place two fingers in the centre of the chest, just below the nipple line, and give up to 5 sharp chest thrusts.
  4. Keep alternating 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts.

Never give abdominal thrusts to a baby under one.

If they become unresponsive

  1. Lower them carefully to the ground.
  2. Call emergency services if nobody has yet.
  3. Start CPR. Each time you open the airway for breaths, look in the mouth and remove anything you can clearly see.

Afterwards

Anyone who has had abdominal or chest thrusts, or who still has a cough, difficulty swallowing or feels something stuck, should see a doctor. Thrusts can cause internal injury, and small pieces can stay in the airway.

This guide does not replace a first-aid course. A few hours of hands-on practice will make you far more confident when it matters.

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