How to Tell If a Choking Victim is Breathing

Watching someone choke can be scary. However, if you keep your head, you can help. Before you jump into action to help a choking victim, you should know how to tell if he is breathing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Check for Breathing

1. Listen for breathing. If a choking victim is getting any air, they'll make a wheezing sound and their abdominal muscles will heave. If they're not getting any air, they cannot make any sound.
2. Look at their extremities. If they're not breathing, their extremities (fingers and lips) will start to turn blue.
3. Watch for breathing. If the victim is unconscious, lean in close and watch for their chest to rise and fall. If it doesn't, they're probably not breathing. If you suspect the victim is breathing shallowly, hold a compact mirror under her nose and see if fog forms. The fog indicates breathing.

If the Victim isn't Breathing

4. Perform the Heimlich maneuver if the person is conscious. Stand behind him and put your foot between his legs. Place your fist, thumb side first, into his abdomen. Cover your fist with the other hand. Thrust inward and upward to push the item blocking the airway out. Continue until he spits out the item or loses consciousness.
5. Begin CPR if the person is unconscious. Lift her chin and check once more for breathing. Give 2 quick breaths and then start 30 chest compressions. Make sure you check the mouth in between breaths and chest compressions to make sure the item blocking the airway hasn't been released. If it has, pull it out of the mouth. Don't stick your fingers down a choking victim's mouth to attempt to find a stuck item. You may end up pushing it further down the airway.
6. Perform CPR for 2 minutes. If the victim hasn't passed the item or regained consciousness, contact 911.