What To Do When You See Someone Choking: A Quick Guide

What Should You Do When You Encounter a Choking Adult?

Imagine being at a dinner party—funny stories shared, laughter echoing off the walls. But suddenly, a friend starts coughing violently, gasping for air. Your heart races. What do you do?

The Power of Coughing

When confronting a choking adult who is responsive, the first thing you should do is not to panic. Instead, encourage them to cough. Yes, that’s right! Coughing is a natural and effective way to help dislodge whatever is blocking the airway. Think about it—coughing uses the body’s powerful reflex to push air out forcefully, which can potentially clear the obstruction. Isn't that cool?

Now, let’s take a moment and think: Have you ever experienced a slight piece of food get stuck? The instinct is always to cough it out. That's just how our bodies are built!

When Coughing Isn’t Enough

But here’s the thing—if that cough doesn’t seem to do the trick, you need to step it up a notch. This is when you perform abdominal thrusts. Picture this technique as a powerful hug to the abdomen—not the awkward kind, but the kind that propels air upward to help free the airway. You create enough pressure that the object causing the obstruction can be dislodged.

Now, if you’re wondering how to do this, it’s straightforward! Stand behind the person who’s choking, make a fist with one hand, and place it just above their navel. Grab your fist with your other hand and sharply thrust inward and upward. Repeat this until the obstruction is cleared, or the person becomes unresponsive. With a bit of practice, you could be that hero at a dinner party!

What Not to Do

Let’s not sugar-coat it: there are some things you should absolutely avoid during this situation.

• Just performing back blows? That’s not enough. It might not provide the necessary force to dislodge the object, and honestly, could lead to more complications.
• Giving them water? No, no! This could make things worse by pushing the object deeper down the throat!
• Leaving them alone to cough it out? Not advisable! The choking may worsen, leading to a more serious blockage. You wouldn’t ignore a fire, right?

Final Thoughts

Remember, when it comes to choking adults, you’re not just a bystander; you have the power to take action!

Encouraging the person to cough is your first step, and if that doesn’t work, abdominal thrusts are waiting in the wings to help save the day. With the knowledge of these steps, you can approach emergencies with confidence and perhaps even save a life!

Being prepared isn’t just about knowing the moves; it’s about being ready to act when every second counts. So, the next time you find yourself in a scenario where someone is choking, you won’t just stand there frozen with worry. You’ll be the one stepping in like a boss, ready to help!