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Choking is a common cause of accidental death. It occurs when a piece of food, toy or other object gets stuck in the throat and keeps air and oxygen from flowing to the lungs.
Young children may choke easily because their airways are narrow. Common causes of choking include nuts, grapes, hot dogs, popcorn, chunks of meat, hard candy and peanut butter. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you do not feed children younger than 4 years round, firm food unless it is completely chopped up.
The American Red Cross and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that every adult learn basic first aid, including how to rescue a person who is choking and CPR. The American Red Cross now recommends a "Five and Five" approach versus the traditional Heimlich maneuver to remove an object blocking airflow.
The most important thing to remember when you think someone is choking is to call 9-1-1.
The Red Cross then recommends that you start the "Five and Five" method. But experts recommend that you take a class in first aid so that you know how to perform it correctly and do not accidentally injure the victim. Go to redcross.org to find a class near you. Following is a short description.
- Give the person 5 sharp blows to the center of the back between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
- If that doesn't clear the airway, do five abdominal thrusts (also called the Heimlich maneuver).
- Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
- Make a fist with one of your hands and place your other hand over your fist. Place the fist below the ribs and slightly above their belly button.
- Give 5 quick upward thrusts on the person's stomach by squeezing the person with your arms and fist.
- If this does not clear the airway, repeat the 5 back blows. Alternate abdominal thrusts and back blows until airway is cleared or help arrives. Start CPR if the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing.
Use this maneuver only when you are sure a person is choking. A person who is choking cannot speak or breathe and may turn a bluish tint. If someone can speak, he or she is not choking. Never practice this on someone who is not choking because you can cause a serious injury.
Do not perform the above method on a child younger than age 1. Parents are strongly recommended to learn first aid so they do not injure a child while attempting to save them. Brief instructions to resuscitate a choking infant include:
- Call 9-1-1.
- Sit down and hold the baby face down on your forearm. Lower the baby's head below the level of the feet.
- With the heel of your hand, firmly thump the baby 5 times at the center of the back.
- If that doesn't work, turn the baby face up and with 2 fingers give the baby 5 chest compressions at the center of the breastbone.
- Repeat back thumps. Alternate between back thumps and chest compressions until object is clear or emergency personnel arrive. Start CPR if baby does not start to breath or becomes unresponsive.
Do not perform this procedure on a baby if the baby can breathe, cry or make a normal voice sound and cough strongly.
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External Sources
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American Red Cross
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American Academy of Pediatrics
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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