How to treat a child or adult that is choking

  • Health

If a child or adult begins choking, acting quickly can be crucial - but the appropriate response can vary depending on the circumstances.

Children under one year old

A baby who is choking may not be able to cry, cough or breathe. According to NHS guidance, the appropriate response to this is:

  • Lay the baby face down on your thigh and support their head

  • Place up to five firm slaps between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand (between the palm and your wrist)

  • Check the mouth after each one

  • If that doesn't work, turn the baby over and give up to five thrusts in the chest, using two fingers to push inwards and upwards (towards the head) against the child's breastbone, one finger's breadth below the nipple line

  • Do not reach into the child's mouth unless you can see and reach the blockage - this may push it further in

  • If the obstruction still hasn't cleared, call for an ambulance - making sure the child is still with you at all times

St John Ambulance released this animated video earlier this year to help people remember how to deal with a choking baby.

If a baby has a persistent cough or difficulty swallowing after their airway is cleared, take them to A&E, an NHS walk-in centre or your GP if it is within GP hours.

Choking in adults and children aged over one year old

Before doing anything, it is important to asses how serious the situation is and whether the person choking is a child or an adult.

If it is severe, they will not be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe, and will eventually become unconscious without help.

According to NHS guidance, a person helping should:

  • Stand slightly behind the person to one side of them - if you're left-handed, stand to the left and vice versa

  • Support their chest with one hand, then lean the person forward so the object blocking their airway comes out of their mouth rather than going further down the passage

  • Give up five firm slaps between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand (between the palm and your wrist)

  • Stop after each of these and check if the airway has cleared

If that does not work, abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneouvre) should be administered unless the person choking is under one year old, pregnant or obese.

To do this:

  • Remain standing behind the person who is choking

  • Place your arms around their waist and bend them forward

  • Clench your first and place it right above the person's belly button

  • Place your other hand on top, then thrust both hands backwards into their stomach with a hard, upward movement up to five times

  • Check if the blockage remains

Once you have tried three cycles of back blows and abdominal thrusts, call an ambulance if the blockage remains - making sure you stay with the person who is choking.

The British Red Cross has produced a video guide to helping a person that is choking.

As abdominal thrusts can cause serious injuries, make sure the person who has received them is examined by a health professional afterward.

As with a child under one year old, any person who was choking that still has a cough, difficulty swallowing or still feels like there is something stuck in their throat should see a health professional urgently - either at A&E, an NHS Walk-in Centre or a GP's surgery.