Choking occurs when the airway is partially or totally blocked by a swallowed object, i.e. when something goes down the windpipe rather than the food passage.The aim of treatment is to clear the blocked passage.

The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn't give the signal, look for these indications:

1. Inability to talk

2. Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing

3. Inability to cough forcefully

4. Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky

5. Loss of consciousness
   
   
   
   
   Treatment
   
   
   

   Conscious adult
   
   

   1. Make sure that it is chocking
   

    Ask, "Are you choking?"  If the victim is not able to breathe, caugh or talk it is the chocking. 

   
   2. Give back blows
   
   Give up to 5 blows between the shoulders blades with the heel of your hand.
   

    

   3. If the person is still chocking do  thrust.
   

    

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

    

   To do this, stand behind victim and wrap your arms round the waist. Grasp one fist with your other hand and place thumb side of your fist in the mid-line between waist and rib cage. Press fist into abdomen with 5 quick upward and inward thrusts.
   
   
   
   

   - Do not use abdominal thrust when dealing with a pregnant woman or over-weight victim. In these cases use chest thrusts - press on breastbone as in CPR. 

   - Take the object out of his mouth only if you can see it. Never do a finger sweep unless you can see the object in the person's mouth. 
   

   - If the blockage is still not dislodged, continue cycles of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is coughed up or the person starts to breathe or cough.

   -Send for medical aid, call an Ambulance and continue treatment until help arrives.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   Self Help First, if you're alone and choking, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Then, although you'll be unable to effectively deliver back blows to yourself, you can still perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item.

   - Place a fist slightly above your navel. 

   - Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface — a countertop or chair will do.

   - Shove your fist inward and upward.
   
   
   

    

    

   Unconscious Adult
   

   1. Establish unconsciousness.

   2. "Call for Help". Get them to get an Ambulance.

   3. Dial your local emergency telephone number.

   4. Open Airway and begin A of resuscitation procedure.

   5. If unsuccessful deliver five abdominal thrusts.

   6. Use finger probe in mouth to remove the dislodged foreign body.

   7. If unsuccessful repeat these sequences. Be persistent.

   8. Continue treatment until help arrives.
   
   
   

   Child (as for adults)

   
   

   
   If a child ('1-8 years) is choking, proceed as for adult, depending on whether victim is conscious or unconscious.
   
   

   Infant (up to 1 year)
   
   

   
   If an infant is choking, turn infant face downwards supporting the body along your arm with hand supporting head and neck.
   

1. Ensure airway is open. 

2. Deliver five back blows between the shoulders, then turn over and give five chest thrusts. 

3. Remove object if visible. 

4. Do not perform blind finger sweeps in infants and children. When obstruction is removed and infant is still not breathing and has no pulse start CPR. 

5. Call help fast see section on Resuscitation for Children.

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