A person with a severe airway obstruction cannot speak, cough effectively, or breathe, and may clutch their throat — the universal choking sign. For a responsive choking adult, give abdominal thrusts: stand behind them, place a fist just above the navel, grasp it with your other hand, and pull sharply inward and upward, repeating until the object is expelled; many protocols alternate with firm back blows. Encourage forceful coughing if the person can still cough, and never do blind finger sweeps. If the person becomes unresponsive, lower them to the ground, call emergency services if not already done, and begin CPR, checking the mouth for a visible object before breaths.
A person with a severe airway obstruction cannot speak, cough effectively, or breathe. This lesson teaches how to respond to a responsive choking adult with alternating sets of back blows and abdomin…