Exclamation PointPlease call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.

Choking Treatment

Call 911 if:

For infants 12 months of age and younger, see Choking in Children.

 

While Waiting for 911

 

If the Person Is Conscious but Not Able to Breathe or Talk:

 

1. Give Back Blows

 

2. If Person Is Still Choking, Do Thrusts

If the person is not pregnant or obese, do abdominal thrusts:

 

If the person is obese or pregnant, do high abdominal thrusts:

 

3. Give CPR, if Necessary

If the obstruction comes out, but the person is not breathing or if the person becomes unconscious:  

 

4. Follow Up

When emergency medical personnel arrive, they will take over and may do CPR or take the person to the hospital, if needed.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on October 06, 2011