What is Choking?

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

  1. Explain choking
  2. Recognise choking
  3. List possible causes of choking
  4. Demonstrate how to treat minor and major choking in a conscious and unconscious adult, child and baby
  5. List ways of preventing choking, especially in children and infants

What is choking?

Choking is when the throat is partially (minor choking) or completely (major choking) blocked by a foreign object (eg. food). Most choking incidents are minor, but they can be frightening for the casualty as well as for the person looking after them.

How can you tell that someone is choking?

  1. If the person is conscious, ask “Are you choking?”. If they show in some way that they are (for example, saying yes, nodding their head, pointing to or holding the throat), treat as for choking, below. (If the casualty is a baby, you will need to work this out for yourself).
  2. If the choking is minor (the airway is not completely blocked):
  3. Difficulty in speaking, crying, coughing or breathing, but the casualty is able to do so
  4. If the choking is major (the airway is blocked):
  5. Not able to speak, breathe, cough or cry
  6. Eventual loss of consciousness if no help given.