How to Treat a Conscious Choking Adult or Child

Video Transcript

"An adult individual choking on something that is obstructing their airway can be a pretty scary experience. Hi, I'm Captain Joe Bruni, and what we are going to talk about is the steps to take with a choking adult. Most adults that are experiencing an obstructed airway will display the international sign of "the hands across the throat". The first step is to ask the person, "Are you choking?", and they will acknowledge if they are. The next step would be to perform abdominal thrusts sometimes referred to as "The Heimlich Maneuver". By placing the hands around the person's abdomen and forming a fist with one hand with the projected area of the thumb into the middle of the abdomen slightly below the sternum or breastbone. Grasp that fist with the other hand and deliver sharp, upward thrusts into the victim forcing air up and out of the lungs and hopefully causing the obstruction to be dislodged. A choking adult can have a pretty scary experience not only for themselves but for bystanders that are in the general vicinity. I'm Captain Joe Bruni, stay safe, and we'll see you next time."