Careboundless
Emergencies & safety

Choking — what to do

Careboundless·For caregivers · 3 min read

Choking moves fast, but your hands know what to do. Act the moment you see it.

If they can cough or speak

  1. Encourage them to keep coughing — a strong cough is the best rescuer.
  2. Stay close, stay calm, and don’t slap their back while they’re coughing well.

If they cannot cough, speak, or breathe

  1. Call 911 (or have someone call) immediately.
  2. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
  3. Then 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich): stand behind, fist just above the navel, and pull inward and upward.
  4. Alternate 5 and 5 until the object clears or help arrives.

A few tips

  • For someone in a wheelchair, do thrusts from behind the chair, or from the front if you can’t reach around.
  • After any choking episode that needed thrusts, have them checked by a clinician.

When to get help

  • If they go limp, lower them to the floor, begin CPR if trained, and keep 911 on the line for guidance.
You don’t have to be perfect — you just have to begin. Help is on the way and so are you.

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Careboundless is a care-coordination and support tool, not a medical provider. This is general information, not medical advice — in an emergency call 911, and always consult a qualified professional for health decisions.