Choking
Summary
Choking occurs when an object partly or completely blocks a person's airway. Choking may be a life-threatening medical emergency because the brain can only survive a few minutes without oxygen. Signs and symptoms include clutching at the throat, coughing, wheezing and a red face. Ring triple zero (000) for an ambulance if a child is not breathing easily or at all. First aid can save a life.
Air enters the lungs via the trachea (windpipe). Choking is caused when a foreign object, like a hard lump of food, a marble or false teeth goes into the trachea instead of the oesophagus (food pipe). If the object is at the entrance to the trachea (epiglottis), a good cough will more than likely push it out. If the object has made its way past the epiglottis, coughing may prevent the object from going further down the trachea. Sometimes, an inhaled object may cut off the airway completely.
Choking may be a life-threatening medical emergency, because the brain can only survive a few minutes without oxygen.
First aid can save the life of a choking person if applied correctly and immediately. Procedures are different for adults and children. Always call triple zero (000) in an emergency.
The suggestions in this fact sheet are not a substitute for first aid training. Everyone should learn first aid skills.
Symptoms of choking
A person with a partly blocked airway can still breathe, speak or cough. Symptoms include:
If the person’s airway is completely blocked and they cannot breathe, speak or cough at all, they will show some or all of the above symptoms including vigorous attempts to breathe, then turning pale and then blue due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis), before collapsing into unconsciousness.
First aid for choking if the person is conscious
To begin with, reassure the person. Encourage them to breathe and cough. If coughing does not remove the blockage:
The technique for adults and children is different from that required for babies. You will need to apply different methods for:
First aid for choking if the person is unconscious
If the person becomes unconscious:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to treat choking
First aid CPR procedure includes:
Choking occurs when an object partly or completely blocks a person's airway. Choking may be a life-threatening medical emergency because the brain can only survive a few minutes without oxygen. Signs and symptoms include clutching at the throat, coughing, wheezing and a red face. Ring triple zero (000) for an ambulance if a child is not breathing easily or at all. First aid can save a life.
Air enters the lungs via the trachea (windpipe). Choking is caused when a foreign object, like a hard lump of food, a marble or false teeth goes into the trachea instead of the oesophagus (food pipe). If the object is at the entrance to the trachea (epiglottis), a good cough will more than likely push it out. If the object has made its way past the epiglottis, coughing may prevent the object from going further down the trachea. Sometimes, an inhaled object may cut off the airway completely.
Choking may be a life-threatening medical emergency, because the brain can only survive a few minutes without oxygen.
First aid can save the life of a choking person if applied correctly and immediately. Procedures are different for adults and children. Always call triple zero (000) in an emergency.
The suggestions in this fact sheet are not a substitute for first aid training. Everyone should learn first aid skills.
Symptoms of choking
A person with a partly blocked airway can still breathe, speak or cough. Symptoms include:
- Panicked and distressed behaviour
- Inability to talk in complete sentences or at full volume
- Frantic coughing
- Unusual breathing sounds, such as wheezing or whistling
- Clutching at the throat
- Watery eyes
- Red face.
If the person’s airway is completely blocked and they cannot breathe, speak or cough at all, they will show some or all of the above symptoms including vigorous attempts to breathe, then turning pale and then blue due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis), before collapsing into unconsciousness.
First aid for choking if the person is conscious
To begin with, reassure the person. Encourage them to breathe and cough. If coughing does not remove the blockage:
- Call triple zero (000).
- Bend the person well forward and give five back blows with the heel of your hand between their shoulderblades – checking if the blockage has been removed after each blow.
- If unsuccessful, give five chest thrusts by placing one hand in the middle of their back for support and the heel of the other hand on the lower part of their breastbone – checking if the blockage has been removed after each thrust.
The technique for adults and children is different from that required for babies. You will need to apply different methods for:
- An adult or child – ask the person to lean over with their hands on their knees or sit in a chair leaning forward. The amount of force used on a child is less than that used on an adult
- Baby – place the baby on your lap or forearm, with their head lower than their body. Ensure that you have them in a firm hold. The amount of force is less than that used on a child.
First aid for choking if the person is unconscious
If the person becomes unconscious:
- Call triple zero (000).
- Remove any visible obstruction from the mouth.
- Commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to treat choking
First aid CPR procedure includes:
- Place the person on their back on a hard surface such as the floor (place a baby on a table).
- Tilt the person's head gently back, pinch the nostrils closed, cover their mouth with yours to create a seal and blow firmly. (Do not tilt a baby’s head back. Instead, cover their nostrils and mouth with your mouth. Blow in puffs.)
- Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the person’s breastbone. Place the other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers. Keep your fingers up so that only the heel of your hand is on the person’s chest. Use only one hand for children aged between one and eight. Use two fingers for babies.
- Press down firmly and smoothly (compressing to one third of chest depth) 30 times. Then administer two breaths. Repeat at the rhythm of five cycles in two minutes.
- Continue CPR and only stop when the ambulance officers take over or the person recovers.