We've all seen scenes in movies and television shows where someone in a restaurant starts choking. They grasp at their throats, their faces turn red, and they often start panicking.
At that point, someone who is with them usually yells, "Is anyone a doctor?" and someone comes running over to help the choking victim and save the day.
There's nothing worse than seeing someone choking in real life and not being able to help — that's why it's so important to know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
If you ever end up in this kind of terrifying situation, like this high school student who was choking in his school cafeteria, knowing how to save someone in need is so important.
Even if you've been trained in first aid and CPR, it's always a good idea to brush up on your knowledge.
Read below to find out exactly what to do if you or someone you know starts choking.
Thumbnail Photo: Youtube / Premium Health
How To Know If Someone Is Choking
Choking is what happens when someone gets a foreign object — often food — lodged in their windpipe or throat.
Choking is incredibly dangerous because the foreign object will often partially or completely block the windpipe, meaning no air is getting into the body. That, in turn, cuts off oxygen to the brain.
In movies, choking is usually a noisy affair, but in real life, it can be almost completely silent because of the blocked airflow, and may not be noticed by others right away.
You'll automatically know if someone is struggling to breathe if they use the universal sign for choking: clutching their hand or hands to their throat.
Signs Someone Is Choking
If someone is too panicked to use the universal sign for choking, there are other signs you can look for to know whether or not they need help.
These signs can also help you identify victims of silent choking, who might not be able to make any noise due to blocked airflow.
The Mayo Clinic explains that the signs to look for include panic, inability to cough, inability to talk, difficulty breathing, either the skin, lips, or nails turning blue, and loss of consciousness.
If these things start to happen, you may need to help.
How To Help Someone Who Is Choking #1: Check Their Airflow
The very first step to helping someone who is choking is asking the person, "Are you choking?"
If they don't respond, ask, "Can you speak?"
If they can speak or cough, do not start performing first aid — they may be able to get the object dislodged with a forceful cough.
Moreover, if someone can speak, that typically means that they can still breathe, so you have a bit more time to figure out a game plan.
For someone who is choking with a completely blocked airway, immediate action is necessary. You may need to perform back blows or abdominal thrusts.
#2: Call 911
The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that the very first thing you need to do if someone is choking is call 911 or another local emergency number.
If you cannot call 911 yourself, find another individual to call. Don't just yell, "Someone call 911!" Everyone will assume that someone else is doing it, and nobody will actually call. If you need to, point at one individual (even if they're a stranger) and tell them specifically to call 911.
Perform back blows and abdominal thrusts before calling 911 if you're the only person around — otherwise, always call 911 first.
#3: "Five-And-Five Approach"
To help someone who is choking, the Red Cross recommends using the "five-and-five approach," which involved performing five back blows, then five abdominal thrusts. Repeat until the object is dislodged.
The American Heart Association, on the other hand, only recommends abdominal thrusts.
Both methods are acceptable — do whichever you feel more comfortable with and more prepared to do correctly.
#4: Back Blows
In order to perform back blows on someone who is choking, lean them forward slightly, and give them five hard whacks with the heel of your hand.
The heel of your hand should land directly between the person's shoulder blades.
#5: Abdominal Thrusts
To perform abdominal thrusts (better known as the Heimlich maneuver) stand behind the person who is choking, wrap your hands around their waist, and tilt the person slightly forward.
With one hand, make a fist and put it right above the person's belly button. Wrap the other hand around your fist, then thrust both hands into the abdomen quickly. It should feel almost like you're trying to lift the person up.
What To Do If The Person Loses Consciousness
If the choking person falls unconscious, lower them to the ground onto their back.
Next, check their airway to see if the blockage is visible. If it is, try to move it out of the way with your finger — don't press it further back into the throat.
After that, start performing CPR, continuing to check the mouth and throat periodically.
How To Perform The Heimlich Maneuver On Yourself
If you're alone and you start choking, it can be one of the scariest things in the world.
There is something you can do, though. Try to call 911 if possible, or text someone you know and ask them to call 911 for you immediately. In some regions, you may even be able to text 911.
Even though you won't be able to perform back blows, you can still give yourself abdominal thrusts. Put your hands slightly higher than normal, right around your lowest ribs.
Press hard with your hands, using a chair, table, countertop, or railing to assist.
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