Choking is when your airway gets blocked and you can’t breathe
When someone chokes, the airway can either be partly or fully
blocked. If it’s a mild blockage, they should be able to clear it
themselves by coughing. If it’s a severe blockage, they won’t be
able to cough so without anyone’s help they’ll become
But if they do become unresponsive, their throat muscles could
relax and open the airway enough for you to give rescue breaths ‒
be prepared to give rescue breaths and chest compressions.
Poster download: What
to do if an adult is choking
Watch our video - how to help someone who is choking
Choking adult ‒ what to look for
If you think someone is choking, ask them: ‘Are you choking?’ to
check they’re not suffering from something else. Can they speak,
cry, cough or breathe?
If they can, they should be able to clear their throat on their
own by coughing, so encourage them to cough.
If they can’t cough or make any noise, it’s serious.
Choking adult ‒ what you need to do
Help clear their throat with these three steps.
Step 1 of 4: Cough it out
- • Encourage them to cough. If this doesn't clear the
obstruction, support their upper body with one hand and help them
Step 2 of 4: Slap it out
- • If coughing doesn’t work, help the casualty bend
- • Use the heel of your hand to give up to five sharp back blows
between their shoulder blades.
- • Check their mouth to see if there’s anything in there and, if
there is, get them to pick it out.
Step 3 of 4: Squeeze it out
- • If back blows don’t work, give up to five abdominal thrusts.
Stand behind them.
- • Link your hands between their tummy button and the bottom of
their chest, with your lower hand clenched in a fist.
- • Pull sharply inwards and upwards.
Step 4 of 4: Call for help
If they’re still choking, call 999 or 112 for medical help.
Once you’ve called, continue steps 2 and 3 – back blows and
abdominal thrusts – until what’s in there has cleared, help arrives
or they become unresponsive.
If they become unresponsive at any stage, open their airway and
check their breathing.
If they’re not breathing, start chest compressions and rescue
breaths (CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to try to release
whatever’s stuck in there. Follow the instructions for treating
someone who’s unresponsive and not breathing.