If you are alone and choking, the goal is to create enough pressure to force the object out. A firefighter-rescuer’s advice is consistent with standard first-aid guidance:
- Call emergency services if you can (for example, put your phone on speaker while you act), but do not delay attempts to clear the blockage.
- Cough forcefully if you can still cough or make sounds. A strong cough is often the best way to remove an object.
- If you cannot breathe, speak, or cough effectively, perform self-rescue abdominal thrusts:
- Make a fist and place the thumb side just above your belly button and below your breastbone.
- Grab your fist with your other hand.
- Pull hard inward and upward with quick thrusts.
- If that does not work, use a solid object:
- Lean your upper abdomen over the edge of a firm surface (such as the back of a chair or countertop edge).
- Press inward and upward to create thrusts.
- Be careful not to use a sharp edge.
If you become unconscious, your body may collapse to the floor; emergency responders can then take over. After a choking episode where thrusts were needed, medical evaluation may be appropriate, especially if there is ongoing pain or difficulty swallowing.
For prevention: take smaller bites, chew thoroughly, avoid talking or laughing with food in your mouth, and be extra cautious with common choking hazards such as large pieces of meat, hard candy, nuts, and poorly chewed foods.
