Choking Rescue: Adult or child over 1 year old

Ask, “Are you choking? “ and maintain eye contact if possible. Assume “yes” if victim cannot breathe, gasp or cough or makes high pitched sounds (figure 1).

HAVE SOMEONE CALL 911. Perform Heimlich maneuver: From behind victim, wrap arms around waist. Make a fist, thumb side down and grasp with the other hand on victims stomach, just above the navel (figure 2). Press fist into stomach and give quick and hard inward and upward thrusts, one after another, until object comes out (figure 3) or victim becomes unconscious.

IF VICTIM BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS, begin CPR. For children, if you are alone and have not called 911, perform 2 minutes of CPR with rescue breaths, then call 911. If you do NOT know CPR or rescue breathing, call 911 immediately.

Choking Rescue: Infant to 1 year old

HAVE SOMEONE CALL 911. Place infant face up on forearm as shown (figure A).  Give 5 chest thrusts with the index and middle finger in the center of infant’s chest. If ineffective, turn child over face down on opposite forearm as shown (figure B). Give 5 firm back blows with the heel of other hand. Repeat process until object comes out of infant’s mouth or infant loses consciousness.

IF INFANT BECOMES UNCONSCIOUS: Begin CPR but use index and middle finger for compressions instead of 2 hands. If you are alone and have not yet called 911, perform 2 minutes of CPR with rescue breaths, then call 911. If you do NOT know CPR or rescue breathing, call 911 immediately.