Signs Of Choking

Inability to talk
Difficult/noisy breathing
Skin, lips, nails turning blue
Loss of consciousness






Encourage others to chew thoroughly and slowly. Remove distractions from where meals are served. Sit upright while eating.
Choking occurs when a foreign object gets caught in the trachea or windpipe, causing the airway to be
blocked. Older adults are at greater risk.

Heimlich Maneuver
Straddle while standing behind victim
wrapping your arms around their waist,
leaning the person forward slightly
Make a fist with one hand and position it
slightly above the persons navel.
Grasp the fist with the other hand and press
hard into the abdomen with a quick upward
thrust, as if trying to lift the person up.
Repeat until the blockage is dislodged

If victim stops responding
1. Yell for help. If someone comes send that
person to call 911 and get the automated
external defibrillator (AED) machine.
2. Lower victim to the ground, face up. If
you are alone, call 911 and get the AED
machine. Return to victim and start the
steps of CPR if you are certified.
3. Every time you open the airway to give
breaths, open the victims mouth wide and
look for the object. If you see one,
remove it with your fingers. If you do not
see anything and are CPR certified, keep
giving sets of 30 compressions and 2
breaths until an AED arrives, the victim
starts to move, or trained help arrives and
takes over