Choking and the airway.

An adult guest chokes while eating. What matters is whether they can still cough effectively and speak.

Coughing can help

If the person can cough strongly, speak and breathe, encourage coughing and watch carefully. If coughing becomes weak or they can no longer speak or breathe, the situation is threatening. Arrange an early call to 112, especially for severe obstruction. Do not pour water into their mouth or reach blindly into it.

Key point: Effective coughing differs from barely getting air.

Severe obstruction in adults

If the responsive adult cannot cough effectively, give up to five blows between the shoulder blades with the upper body leaning forward. Check for success after each blow. If obstruction persists, follow with up to five abdominal thrusts; alternate the two measures. Do not use abdominal thrusts in pregnancy. If you cannot encircle the upper abdomen, adapted measures are needed; let the emergency control centre guide you.

Key point: Practise these techniques only on models in a practical course.

Change approach if there is no response

If the person becomes unresponsive, help lower them safely, call 112 and start resuscitation if normal breathing is absent. Remove only clearly visible, easily accessible foreign bodies; do not search blindly. Medical examination is needed after abdominal or chest compressions, even if the obstruction has cleared.

Key point: A change in condition means changing to the resuscitation procedure.

Decide and check for yourself.

Five questions: Choking and the airway.

One answer per question. You get an immediate explanation and may retry as often as you like. Answers last only until reload; optionally, test completion is saved on this device.