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Recognize it. Respond quickly.

Choking Response

Learn how to recognize mild and severe choking, then choose the correct response for an adult, child, or infant.

About a 6-minute lesson
Severe choking is an emergency.

Call 911 immediately—or tell someone nearby to call—and begin the correct choking response.

Call 911
First, identify the problem

Mild or Severe Choking?

Mild Choking

The person can cough forcefully, speak, cry, or make sounds.

Let them keep coughing. Watch closely for worsening signs.

Severe Choking

The person cannot speak, cry, or cough forcefully. They may make no sound, turn blue or gray, or lose responsiveness.

Call 911 and act immediately.
Severe choking response

Choose the Person’s Age Group

Adult

  1. Give 5 back blows.
  2. Give 5 abdominal thrusts.
  3. Repeat until the object comes out or the person becomes unresponsive.

Child

  1. Give 5 back blows.
  2. Give 5 abdominal thrusts.
  3. Repeat until the object comes out or the child becomes unresponsive.

Infant

  1. Give 5 back blows.
  2. Give 5 chest thrusts using the heel of one hand.
  3. Repeat until the object comes out or the infant becomes unresponsive.

Never give an infant abdominal thrusts.

Special situation

If you cannot encircle the abdomen

For late pregnancy, or when you cannot reach around an adult’s abdomen, give cycles of 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts.

If they become unresponsive

Lower Them Safely and Begin CPR

1

Place them on a firm, flat surface and call 911 if no one has called.

2

Begin CPR with chest compressions. Do not delay to check for a pulse.

3

Each time you open the airway for breaths, remove the object only if you can clearly see it.

Never perform a blind finger sweep.

Reaching into the mouth without seeing the object can push it deeper into the airway.